By Quadri Yahya
Claim
On August 22, 2022, Nigeria media reported that Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party has vowed to hand over federal universities to state governments if elected in 2023.
Verdict
The media reports are misleading.
Full Text
On August 22, 2022, Nigeria media reported that Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party said he would hand over federal universities to state governments if elected in 2023.
All the media that reported the statement quoted Atiku, one of the contenders in the presidential race, as saying:
“One of the fundamental reforms I have in my policy document is to encourage the private sector as far as the development of the country is concerned – both foreign and local. It is very essential because the federal government does not have the resources to do all the things that they want to do.
“The only way is to make sure that a conducive environment is available for the local and foreign investors to participate in the development of our country, whether it is infrastructure, education and healthcare.
“I had an argument with a university professor from Federal University, Lokoja. He said he read in my policy document that I intend to devolve, in other words, to return education to the states. How dare I do that?
“I said: ‘Mr professor, do you realise that the first set of our universities belongs to the regional governments?’ He said, ‘yes’. I said ‘who are the successors of the regional government?’ He said: ‘the states’.
“I said the children you send to America or England, who own those universities? Mostly the private sector. So, why is it that you think we cannot do it here? We don’t have the money.”
The Nigeria’s former vice president, Atiku made the statement at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference in Lagos.
The PDP presidential candidate made the comment while stating his plans for the education sector.
Federal universities have been shut since February due to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Verification
FactCheckElection thoroughly study the quoted statement. We noted some key paragraphs to be pointed out to know the veracity of the media reports.
From the 3rd paragraph of the quoted statement, FactCheckElection can deduce that Atiku is against handing over federal universities to state governments.
Further, in the preceding paragraph, Atiku does make reference to the background of tertiary institutions in the country.
However, Atiku does not clearly say he would hand over federal universities to state governments.
Hence, the media had literally misinterpreted the statement.
Also, Paul Ibe, a media aide to the former vice president, has said the media reports are misinterpretation of his principles statement.
Conclusion
FactCheckElection can conclude that media reports that Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party said he would hand over federal universities to state governments are misleading.