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JUST IN: FG opposes N/Assembly’s proposals for 200 new varsities
The federal government has expressed opposition to the proposals by the National Assembly for creation of nearly 200 new universities in the country.
It said with almost 200 bills in the National Assembly for establishment of new universities, there is a growing concern that the system is becoming overwhelmed.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, stated this in Abuja yesterday during the third edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing.
The country currently has 278 universities, 64 of which are federal; 67, state; and 147, private.
The government had, last month, announced a one-year moratorium on the establishment of new private universities “to enhance the quality and sustainability of private universities, ensuring that only institutions with the necessary financial and academic capacity are granted licenses.”
The minister yesterday emphasised that strengthening the capacities of the existing universities is more important than establishing new ones.
He said: “They (lawmakers) are passing a lot of bills. Today, I can tell you that there are almost 200 bills in the National Assembly. We can’t continue like this.
Even though we have a lot of them, the capacity for a university to admit is not there. What we need to do now is to rebuild the capacities so that we can offer more viable courses to our citizens.
“We need to stop this (the 200 bills for new universities) from happening. There is so much pressure on the president. We have to, at least, be sensitive to it as well.
“I understand the sentiment of our legislators. They want to show that they are working. We know they are working. But then, we have enough assets, we have enough opportunities out there for students to go to universities.
“What we now need to do is to begin to mobilise more resources to develop infrastructures, build engineering workshops, build laboratories in these universities, recruit international standard teachers, so that we can begin to get these universities to develop, to deliver high quality of education that will be known for as a country.
“Today, if you care to know, we have 64 federal universities, 67 state universities and 147 private universities.
If you look at the entire enrolment together, the private universities account for just 7.5% of total undergraduate enrolment.
I will tell you the meaning of the number. The total number of undergraduate enrolments today is just about 875,000, which is, at least, fairly low.
“We have universities with less than 1,000 undergraduate students, and there is this intense demand for more universities to be opened. We have to stop that.”
however, it is not only the legislators that are obsessed with pushing for the establishing of universities as constituency project or for status symbol.
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Christians Killing in Nigeria: US Lashes back at China
Condemning China’s human rights record, Moore further accused Beijing of hypocrisy for attempting to lecture the US on foreign policy matters.
•United States lawmaker Riley Moore
“China will not dictate our foreign policy to us, and we will not be lectured to by a Communist autocracy that recently arrested 30 Christian pastors for their faith and throws ethnic minorities in concentration camps.”
United States lawmaker Riley Moore, said while responding to China’s position regarding President Trump’s warning about a possible military intervention over reported Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Speaking in a post on X, Moore stated that Beijing would not dictate America’s foreign policy, adding that the US has a moral responsibility to defend religious freedom.
“President Trump is absolutely right to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering horrific persecution, and even martyrdom, for their faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” he penned.
Condemning China’s human rights record, Moore further accused Beijing of hypocrisy for attempting to lecture the US on foreign policy matters.
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Local Contractors Protest at N/Assembly over debts
The protesters, led by the association’s national president, Jackson Ifeanyi Nwoss, yesterday carried banners and placards calling on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to release funds for executed constituency and federal projects.
Local Contractors under the umbrella of All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria, staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding payment of debts allegedly owed them by the federal government.
The protesters, led by the association’s national president, Jackson Ifeanyi Nwoss, yesterday carried banners and placards calling on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to release funds for executed constituency and federal projects.
The contractors, who converged in large numbers at the National Assembly main gate around 10 a.m., caused a heavy traffic gridlock that forced security operatives to lock down the complex’s main entrance.
Staff and visitors were later diverted to the back gate, which also became congested, with vehicles barred from entering the premises.
Speaking during the protest, Nwosu accused the federal government of insincerity and neglect, saying many contractors have been pushed into debt and poverty despite completed projects across the country.
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MultiChoice Unveils Festive Seasons Price Slash for Decoders
MultiChoice’s Executive Head of Marketing, Tope Oshunkeye, explained that the move is to ensures that entertainment remained affordable for all Nigerians as the festive season approaches.
Multichoice has slashed the price of the DStv decoder from N10,000 to a N7,900, while the GOtv decoder price dropped to N6,500.
MultiChoice’s Executive Head of Marketing, Tope Oshunkeye, explained that the move is to ensures that entertainment remained affordable for all Nigerians as the festive season approaches.
He emphasised that this would be a great opportunity for more families to spend quality time together, enjoying local and international programming without putting too much pressure on their pockets.
According to the company, this second major adjustment in months, effective since November 1, is part of the company’s commitment to serve customers better and provide affordable access to premium entertainment.
The new price adjustment follows an earlier reduction in June, under the company’s “We’ve Got You” campaign. Then, MultiChoice adjusted the price of a DStv decoder by 50 percent from N20,000 to N10,000, and the GOtv decoder went from N18,600 to N9,900.
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