The Federal Government recently approved the establishment of eight more universities in the country. Since former President Olusegun Obasanjo approved the pioneer three private universities – Babcock, Igbinedion and Madonna – every successive president has done the same.

In recent years, 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases have originated in animals or animal products. These disease outbreaks and public health crises have taken thousands of lives, harmed livelihoods, and severely impacted national, regional and global industries and economies.

A week ago, the Academic Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) served notice of its intention to embark on a one-week warning strike with effect from Wednesday, 16th November, 2016. Its President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, claimed that ASUU took the action after nationwide consultations with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Union, though the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, insisted the Federal Government (ASUU members’ main employer) was not notified.

The report, a few weeks ago, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seized a building worth two billion naira from a former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, has raised questions on what the Federal Government intends to do with such confiscated structures. It is only one of several hundred houses, hotels, commercial buildings and parcels of land now reportedly in the custody of the EFCC, though most of them are still under litigation.

WHEN the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme was introduced by the General Yakubu Gowon administration in 1973, it was designed to promote national integration of Nigeria’s over 300 ethnic groups. With about ten universities at the time and the annual graduate turnout of less than 20,000 per annum, the Scheme was affordable. Every graduate received call-up and placement.