2023: Afe Babalola Condemns Closure Of Varsities Over Elections

Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has criticized the Federal Government's decision to shut down all universities in Nigeria due to the general elections. 

Babalola made this statement on Monday during the 5th Induction ceremony of 123 medical doctors who recently graduated from ABUAD in Ado-Ekiti.

The former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos argued that the directive issued by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, through the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, was not only illegal but also unnecessary and inappropriate. 

He also emphasized that the Minister had no statutory power to order the closure of the nation's universities without consulting relevant stakeholders.

Babalola further lamented that the sudden closure of universities by the Minister and the NUC had caused significant harm to Nigerian students. 

The impact of this decision on the academic progress of students cannot be quantified, he added.

“Under the NUC Act of 1974 and the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act of 1985, the Minister has no statutory power to issue a directive to NUC to close down universities. I refer in particular to section 4(2) of the 1974 (NUC) Act”.

“The problems have been worsened by scarcity of money by banks and automated teller machines, ATM, all of which ordinarily make transportation back home, more dangerous than ever before.

“If you want to destroy a nation, you don’t need bayonets, bombs, or nuclear warheads. All you need is to destroy the education of the nation.

“The illegal closure has adversely affected the curriculum, particularly in respect of private universities which are reputed for their predictable academic calendar and absence of strike actions,” Babalola said.

He pointed out that Nigeria already has a criminal code, and other laws that allow the government and law enforcement agencies to handle any person, regardless of their social status, without endangering the safety of staff, students, or property in educational institutions.

Regarding the new Constitution, Babalola highlighted that the main issue causing concern among politicians is the 1999 Constitution.

“It is this constitution that has made politics the only lucrative business in Nigeria today. 

"This is responsible for the orgy of “do or die” politics,” he said.

NUC recently ordered the closure of universities across the nation in preparation for the forthcoming general elections.