Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria (SSUCOEN) has appealed to the Kwara state government to increase the monthly subvention for the state’s Colleges of Education and College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS), Ilorin.
Speaking with journalists during his recent visit to Kwara State Colleges of Education and CAILS in continuation of his nationwide tour of Colleges of Education in Nigeria, the SSUCOEN president, Comrade Danladi Ali Msheliza, commended Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for bailouts given to the colleges at various intervals and for being the first state to inaugurate the N70,000 minimum wage committee in the entire country.
The union, which called for conversion/repositioning of the academic institutions, also charged the state government to construct perimeter fences around the campuses to enhance security.
While he appealed to the Kwara state government to address funding challenges facing the colleges, increase the monthly subvention and provide quality services to students, the SSUCOEN president emphasized the need for full salary payments, rather than percentages, citing the current hard economic realities.
He reiterated that the union does not recognize Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the colleges, instead, students pay service charges for specific facilities and services rendered.
“These payments are meant to cover the cost of providing those services, leaving little or no residual income to augment salary payment for staff”, he said.
To reduce financial burden of running multiple colleges of education and CAILS in addition to other state owned tertiary institutions on the state government, the SSUCOEN president suggested total transmutation of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, into a University of Education rather than establishing an entirely new University that would require significant investment in infrastructure, staff recruitment and operational cost avoidable by transmuting the existing college.
He also suggested conversion of the Kwara State College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi to a Federal College of Education.
“With this the state will be focusing on fewer schools and provide adequate financial resources for their operation”.
He offered the union’s support in exploring this option more so that Kwara is not having a Federal College of Education since its creation.
Comrade Msheliza also called for the repositioning of the CAILS, Ilorin by affiliating it with relevant educational regulatory agencies.
“This move aims to enhance the recognition of CAILS’ certificates, promoting academic excellence and opportunities for its graduates.
The President emphasized the need for CAILS to align with national and international standards, ensuring its programmes are accredited and respected.
“By doing so, CAILS will increase its visibility, attract more students, and contribute significantly to the education sector”.
The President appealed to the Kwara state government to construct perimeter fences around the colleges to strengthen security and protect life and properties on campuses.
He suggests that the governor, who is also the chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) may explore appropriate window available for such kind of projects through the Tetfund Interventions.
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