Former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has vehemently criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent policy on age limits for tertiary education admission, labeling it as belonging to the “Stone Ages.”
In a statement on his X handle, Atiku denounced the Federal Ministry of Education’s policy of setting age limits for entry into tertiary institutions, calling it an “absurdity” and a “disincentive to scholarship.” He argued that this policy contradicts the principles of a federal system of government, where sub-national governments have significant roles in education.
Atiku emphasized that the Nigerian constitution places education on the concurrent list, giving sub-national governments more authority over educational matters than the federal government. Therefore, he contended that it is “extra-constitutional” for the federal government to impose such regulations unilaterally.
The former vice president questioned the logic behind this policy, especially given the myriad issues facing Nigeria’s educational system. He suggested that the best global standard is to allow sub-national governments to create their own laws and rules regarding education.
Atiku also expressed disappointment that the government’s announcement of this policy included no plans to support specially gifted pupils. He described this oversight as an embarrassment to the intellectual community in Nigeria, as it suggests a lack of appreciation for gifted students.
Atiku argued that if the federal government were to play a role in education, it should focus on identifying and providing scholarships to gifted students, regardless of their age. He concluded that this policy is outdated and should be widely condemned by all who believe in promoting education and scholarship.
