Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has urged academic unions to help the Federal Government hold vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts accountable for the management of funds allocated to tertiary institutions.
Alausa made the call in Abuja at the public presentation of 72 academic textbooks authored by Nigerian scholars under TETFund’s Higher Education Book Development Intervention Project, alongside 10 additional titles acquired for distribution to tertiary institutions across the country.
The minister said while the Federal Government remains committed to improving the welfare of academic and non-academic staff, stakeholders must also ensure that institutional leaders are transparent and responsible in managing public resources.
“The government is really not the problem. Government will do everything possible to keep academic and non-academic staff happy, your welfare, your working environment and the tools you need to work.”
“But you need to help us direct the searchlight to the heads of your institutions, the vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts. Several of them are running those institutions like empires. We need your help in ensuring that fiduciary responsibilities are met and that they are held accountable,” he said.
He stressed that every fund released to tertiary institutions must be utilised strictly for its intended purpose, noting that the government would work with stakeholders to strengthen accountability in the system.
Alausa described the initiative as part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to strengthen academic excellence and reduce dependence on foreign-authored textbooks.
According to him, the shortage of indigenous tertiary-level textbooks has forced Nigerian institutions to rely heavily on foreign publications, placing pressure on foreign exchange and limiting opportunities for local scholars.
“Over the years, the paucity of indigenous-authored tertiary textbooks has reached a critical stage. Our institutions have increasingly depended on textbooks published abroad,” he said.
He added that encouraging Nigerian scholars to produce high-quality academic materials would improve learning outcomes, strengthen research capacity and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The minister commended the scholars who authored the books, describing their contributions as critical to national development.
“Knowledge is the greatest asset any nation can possess. These authors have sacrificed personal comfort to produce books in medicine, engineering, law, agriculture, management sciences, entrepreneurship and other fields essential to our development,” he said.
Alausa also challenged TETFund to explore ways of expanding access to the books beyond tertiary institutions so they can reach a wider global audience.
“These books were produced with public funds. We must find a way to democratise access so they can be available beyond TETFund-supported institutions and even beyond Nigeria,” he said.
The minister further revealed that the Federal Government was ready to sign a new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, noting that President Bola Tinubu had already approved funding for improved welfare packages.
According to him, the government is keen to conclude negotiations quickly to avoid the accumulation of salary arrears and ensure stability in the nation’s tertiary education system.
He also praised TETFund for expanding the number of supported titles, noting that only 50 textbooks were presented under the programme a year earlier.
The book development intervention, launched in 2009, focuses on three major areas: publication of academic textbooks, support for professional academic journals, and establishment of sustainable academic publishing centres in tertiary institutions.
Alausa said the initiative would play a crucial role in strengthening Nigeria’s knowledge base and advancing the country’s long-term educational and economic development.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc Sonny Echono, said the book initiative was designed to address the persistent shortage of quality tertiary-level textbooks in Nigeria and strengthen teaching, learning, and research in higher institutions.
According to him, 72 of the titles were newly authored under the TETFund project, while 10 others were written by reputable scholars and secured for use by beneficiary institutions.
He disclosed that the Fund has so far published 202 academic textbooks, with several others currently undergoing evaluation.
Echono also revealed that over 400,000 copies of the books would be distributed to institutions nationwide, while digital versions would be made available online to enhance accessibility.
Earlier in the gathering, he led participants to observe a minute’s silence in honour of one of the authors, Valerie Young Harry, who passed away shortly before the event.
On his part, the Chairman, Board of Trustees at TETFund, Aminu Bello Masari, described the late author’s work as a lasting legacy, noting that knowledge passed from generation to generation ensures a person’s impact outlives their lifetime.
Masari also stressed the importance of applying knowledge practically and called for strategies to commercialise the books so authors and their families can benefit from their intellectual contributions.
