Afe Babalola
According to statistics from the Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC, there are currently 263 tertiary institutions in Nigeria. And 53 of these are federal institutions, 63 are state-owned, and 147 are private institutions. There are more private tertiary institutions than federal and state institutions combined in Nigeria.
There is no gainsaying that if the private tertiary
institutions and the students of private tertiary institutions are excluded
from any programme in Nigeria today, the implication is that the majority of
institutions and their students in Nigeria are left out.
Private institutions in Nigeria
The earliest initiatives and developments in tertiary
education in Nigeria was at the instance of Federal and Regional governments;
and ultimately, state governments. At that time, there was no teeming
population of aspirants who aspired to study at the tertiary level. The story
is very different today because there are now millions of aspirants to tertiary
institutions every year and there are not enough places to accommodate them.
As the population of aspirants seeking to acquire tertiary
education increased, government at the national and sub-national levels
responded by establishing more institutions to absorb and train the teeming
population of aspirants. When it became clear that the various arms of
government could not handle the insufficiency of the numerous institutions, the
Nigerian government realised that it would be necessary to invite the private
sector for help.
Since 1999, the Federal Government has been granting
licenses to private sector promoters to establish private universities in
Nigeria. This is obviously in appreciation of the need for private institutions
of higher learning to render services and contribute to the socio-economic
well-being of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Within the first two decades of establishing private
institutions, the private institutions have competed favourably with the
government- owned institutions as recent rankings by reputable ranking bodies
indicate. The private universities have restored the hope of students and
sponsors alike that students can study with a stable calendar and graduate as
planned.
Without delving into all the particular achievements of
private universities in Nigeria, especially in recent times, it needs to be
said that all the achievements of the private universities and their students
have been accomplished through private financing.
Discrimination against private institutions in Nigeria
There has been for some time certain discriminatory policies
and practices against private tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
TETFund
Nigeria by legislation operates a taxpayer subsidies scheme
first established through the Education Trust Fund and later Established as the
Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund. This fund has been strictly applied to
the development of government-run tertiary institutions whether at the national
or sub-national level. For instance, on Sunday February 4, 2024, the Executive
Secretary of TETFund, Mr, Sonny Echono, announced the approval of disbursements
of funds to aid the federal tertiary institutions in Nigeria alone; it was a
painful reminder and pointer that many citizens of Nigeria will never benefit
from the disbursement which is aimed at bolstering tertiary education in
Nigeria for the simple fact that those citizens chose to study in private
tertiary institutions.
TETFund is an intervention fund set up to rehabilitate,
restore and consolidate tertiary education in Nigeria as contained in the
Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act, 2011. The origin of the fund lies in the
Education Trust Fund of 1993. TETFund is
financed by Education Tax levied on all registered companies in Nigeria, with
the exception of companies that provide educational services. The education tax
payable by companies is 3% of the profits of the companies.
The funds are for the provision or maintenance of:
1. Essential physical infrastructure for teaching and
learning;
2. Institutional material and equipment;
3. Research and publications;
4. Academic staff training and development, and;
5. Any other critical and essential need for the improvement
and maintenance of the standards in the higher educational institutions.
To date, the huge funds accruing to TETFund are only used to
finance public institutions. The genesis of this unfortunate state of things is
attributable to Sections 6(e), and 7(1) of the TETFund Act which expressly
restrict the application of TETFund to public tertiary institutions. It is
important to note that TETFund was originally conceived before the Federal
Government invited willing and able promoters to establish private universities
in Nigeria. With the reality today, TETFund should be extended to all higher
educational institutions and if necessary, certain conditions to ensure
transparency and accountability may be put in place.
If applicability of TETFund continues to be limited to
public institutions, the implication will be that the Federal Government is
limiting the benefit of such a laudable intervention to only the students of
public or federal or state institutions and this approach can only be
discriminatory because these institutions whether public or private are
established for the ultimate aim of educating and empowering Nigerians.
Taxpayer subsidies in other climes
For brevity, I will utilise the USA as an example of what is
obtainable in other climes. In the United State of America, research has shown
that among elite private universities, like Harvard and Yale, the average
taxpayer subsidy is $13,000 per student per year, while the annual subsidy at
the most selective universities like the University of North Carolina, Chapel
Hill, and the University of California, Los Angeles is more than $23,000.00
annually. This is support received directly from government.
How are private universities able to receive federal funding
in the USA?
There are a number of established ways that private
universities receive funding from the government in the USA. Some examples
follow below:
Research Grants
Private colleges are able to acquire funding through
research grants given by government agencies such as the National Science
Foundation. Some of these grants are indeed available only to private tertiary
institutions.
Technology Grants
Private universities can also apply for federal funding to
finance specific technological improvements. Such grants include School Safety
Grant Programme and educational technology grants like CARES Act Funding.
Students Financial Aid
Students that plan on attending private schools can opt in
for federal student aid, meaning that the school will be receiving that federal
aid to cover tuition and other educational fees. Students can apply to federal
grants as well, being another source of financial aid.
Work Study Programmes
Most institutions utilize work-study programmes, including
private schools. Students at private universities can have the opportunity to
work part-time to receive financial aid, which is federally funded.
How are students of private tertiary institutions able to
receive fderal funding in the USA?
Regardless of what type of college or university that a
student attends, students are eligible for federal student aid or FAFSA. This
is a system where students can apply yearly for aid towards tuition.
Student loans and taxpayer subsidies in Nigeria, a different
ball game in comparison to the USA
The relief and anticipation that greeted the Presidential
assent to the Student Loans(Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and
Re-enactment) ACT 2024, was eclipsed for many by the fact that it had excluded
the citizens of Nigeria who chose to study in private tertiary institutions
which are duly licensed and accredited to offer courses and award degrees from
benefitting in any way from the loans available under the Act.
The system established so far in Nigeria is sub-par and
leaves much to be desired in the face of international best practices.
I have always identified the fact that both private
universities and students of private universities need every assistance
possible to improve learning facilities and teaching outcomes which in turn
must translate to more gains for Nigeria and her citizens.
I have also always believed and advocated that students need
support for tuition and subsistence. I have always supported students whether
in public or private institutions whenever necessary and within the limits of
my resources.
It must be appreciated that private universities meet and
exceed the requirements for accreditation, and provide adequately equipped
laboratories, good infrastructure, libraries, and parade highly qualified and
committed teachers to deliver qualitative education that can only come to the
fore where talents are expeditiously harnessed. International rankings of
Nigerian universities clearly indicate that the private universities in Nigeria
sit comfortably at the top of the ranking tables.
It is apposite to say that government should be able to
provide support for students of Licensed Private Universities through student
loans even if it will be funded to a particular maximum so that the students
and their sponsors will make up these facilities.
My understanding is that no student is more of a Nigerian
student than the other. Consequently, a fair, non-discriminatory loan system of
general application to Nigerian students which would enable all Nigerian
students to pay fees and support their studies is encouraged and advocated.
Private universities engage in the training of Nigerians
just like the public universities and there should be no discrimination when it
comes to training. All graduates can contribute to Nigeria irrespective of the
nature of tertiary institution attended. In the end it is Nigeria that benefits
from the products of both public and private institutions.
*Please send your comment/ contribution to president@abuad.edu.nga