More Nigerian Students Dropping Out Due to Economic Hardships, Says ASUU Chairman
"More students are dropping out of school following the cost of acquiring education," Ubi said. "The dropout challenge is affecting all levels of education; many parents are falling below the poverty line."
AKACHI NOEL 
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Calabar chapter has raised concerns over the increasing number of students dropping out of school due to harsh economic conditions under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Peter Ubi, the chapter's chairman, stated in an interview on Tuesday in Calabar that many students have been unable to continue their education over the past year because of the high cost of acquiring education.
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"More students are dropping out of school following the cost of acquiring education," Ubi said. "The dropout challenge is affecting all levels of education; many parents are falling below the poverty line."
Ubi emphasized that basic education should be free and criticized the government's inability to support low-income families in sending their children to school. He also highlighted the loss of qualified educators to migration, with many seeking better opportunities abroad.
"Young scholars are leaving in search of greener pastures. This challenge is worse in tertiary institutions. They will claim to be going for further studies abroad, but we know they are not returning; it is a painful reality," he said.
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The ASUU chairman urged the federal government to remove the union from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to improve the university system, noting that promises to do so have not been fulfilled. He also mentioned that lecturers are owed salaries and promotion arrears, which has significantly affected their morale.
"We only work to earn a living, not because there is dignity in labour. The nation’s education sector has achieved nothing significant in the past year. This is because the budgetary allocation to the sector is still far from the standard recommendation."
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Ubi concluded by stating that the current administration's lack of support has exacerbated the rate of school dropouts and migration, impacting the overall vibrancy and attractiveness of the education system.
