Astute businessman and chairman of the negotiating team with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin has made a confession…

“I have an idea of what it takes to fund a university, but I can’t afford it. I have no plans to start a private university as at now.”

“There should be no compromise about funding education. The lecturers believe N2 trillion must be spent, but where does it take come from? And for every amount of money invested in education, there must be a way of measuring the effect.”

“In 1974/75, the University College Hospital in Ibadan was the fifth-rated in the Commonwealth. So if we decide to put money into UCH, we must sit down with the leadership for Key Performance Indicators. But ASUU says no. That it is the neoliberal tendencies of Babalakin.”

“The kind of funding we are talking about is not a bonanza. But what ASUU wants is a bonanza.”

“The terms of reference of the negotiating team does not include pronouncement on fees. The Committee has not recommended school fees. We don’t have the mandate to impose school fees.”