The federal government yesterday directed all administrators of higher institutions to hands off provision of hostel accommodation and engages the services of estate managers for that purpose.
Addressing all vice chancellors of federal universities, Rectors of federal polytechnics and Provosts of colleges of education in an extraordinary meeting in Abuja yesterday, the minister of education, Prof. Fabian Osuji, said that government believes strongly that the management of the hostels must be removed from the direct control of the management of institutions as they have so far been unable to provide conducive living environments for students.
“In this regard, therefore, government directs that all institutions of higher education in Nigeria must immediately commence intense consultations with all stakeholders (including) but not restricted to students, parents, alumni, professional bodies, the private sector and community heads with a view to design modalities for the effective management of the existing hostels as well as the provision of new ones outside the day-to-day control of the administrations of the institutions,” he said.
Prof. Osuji said the federal government arrived at this decision after a thorough review of the recommendations of the committee set up to review the circumstances of the N10,000 charged for hostel accommodation.
He said after the work of the committee which included visits to some hostels in the institution, it affirmed the fear of government that most institutions had in fact failed to provide decent living places for students.
The conditions of the hostels as described by the report of the committee, Prof. Osuji said, were appalling and in many cases unfit for the habitation of students.
He directed the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), to ensure that appropriate standards and guidelines are provided to their respective institutions on the matter and to formally confirm full compliance before December 2004.
Prof. Osuji said the ministry and the NUC were consulting with federal ministry of Housing and Urban Development for assistance in the provision of additional modern housing for both students and staff of higher institutions.
The issue of hostel accommodation has been a source of disagreement between the government and students following the introduction of new charges from N90 per bed space to N10,000.
In a related development, the minister has warned Vice-Chancellors and Rectors of Polytechnics that their jobs may be on the line if they do not utilize budgeted funds for the year for capital projects before December 2004.
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