The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday in Abuja received the report on the state of the Nigerian University System, with a pledge to ensure a comprehensive overhaul of the system.
Addressing State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said the report was presented to the Council by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa'i.
He said the Council deliberated extensively on the report, which was prepared by the Committee on the Review of the Nigerian University System, and agreed on the need for comprehensive intervention to reposition the system.
Maku said the committee examined the state of the universities and all the issues that had continued to lead to friction and low standards in the university system.
He explained that the committee visited the entire federal and state universities and took a look at the various issues, particularly those relating to infrastructure, state of facilities, administration, availability of lecturers and student ratio.
“The committee evaluated the entire scope of the university system in the country.''
The minister said the report would be presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) to enable the 36 state governors deliberate on it in order to come up with a comprehensive policy.
He noted that some of the issues discovered by the committee were more complicated at the level of state universities.
“The universities deserve necessary attention because they represent the future of the country and whatever happens in the universities today will define the future of our nation," the minister added. (NAN)
