Buhari’s ASUU failings cost Nigerians $609m in just 8 months
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigerians spent $609.5 million on foreign education in the first eight months of this year, spanning January to August 2022 (8M 2022), as contained in data compiled by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The payment breaks down as follows:
- January – $60.20 million
- February – $69.9 million
- March – $87.26 million
- April – $78.62 million
- May – $82.70 million
- June – $84.90 million
- July $61.99 million
- August – $84.01 million
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Buhari’s failings
Muhammadu Buhari has failed to properly fund tertiary education in all his seven years as President.
He degrades university education in Nigeria while he and others in the political class send their children to universities in Europe and America at public expense. And they rub it in by showing off the graduation of their children on social media.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) went on strike in February to expose the rot in the system, and the hypocrisy of Buhari and other members of the cabal that have grounded Nigeria.
Eight months on, nothing has yet come out of the strike.
Latest data released by the British Home Office shows the number of study visas issued to Nigerians rose 222.8 per cent from 20,427 in June 2021 to 65,929 in June 2022, according to reporting by The PUNCH.
Nigerians paid $609.5 million to foreign academic institutions in 8M 2020 but there was no reciprocity from foreign sources to the local educational sector.
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) reports that about 76,338 Nigerians were studying abroad as of 2018, the highest from anny African country.
Leaving Nigeria as a means of survival
“The truth is that most people see ‘japa’ as a means of survival. People just want to leave the country and that is fine.
“The ASUU strike is close to eight months now,” said Reform Education Nigeria Programme Director Ayodamola Oluwatoyin.
“Most of the policies by the government itself are anti-youth; the government has made the economy difficult for youths to thrive.
“Most people are still going to leave before the end of the year, and to be honest, it is very sad; this is brain drain and the country has not even realised it yet.”