The Federal Government, Monday, approved the establishment of 37 new private universities nationwide.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, told journalists after an extraordinary meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja.
The approval brings the total number of universities approved by President Muhammadu Buhari administration to 72.
They include 14 Federal Universities, 21 State Universities and 37 Private Universities from 2015 to date.
Adamu who declined to mention the names of the newly approved higher institutions of learning only revealed that one of the 37 was an online university operated by a female Chancellor from Bauchi State.
When asked about the FG’s move to establish more universities despite the ailing public university structure nationwide, Adamu argued that the country needs more universities to school its swelling youth population.
He said “We need more universities. The existence of the many universities should not deter the creation of new ones. Besides, these are private universities.”
Speaking too, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said the Council also approved the Universal Implementation of the Employee Compensation Act (ECA) 2010.
He explained that the law is operated by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), noting that it is a replacement of the old Employee Compensation Act that was known as “Workmen Compensation”.
According to him, the Council has approved it for universal implementation, “meaning that apart from the private sector, that is already implementing, the public sector, which is government – federal, state and local governments – have now to adopt this for the protection of their workers”.
The council also approved the universal implementation of the Employee Compensation Act 2010 which makes comprehensive provisions for payment of compensation to employees who suffer from occupational diseases or sustain injuries from accidents suffered in the line of duty.
