Party faults award of honorary doctorate to politicians

The party chairman said it is not in Nigeria’s best interest to honour politicians.

The National Chairman of the Progressive Action Congress, PAC, Charles Nwodo, has said the award of honorary doctorate degrees to politicians is not in the best interest of the nation’s education system.

Mr. Nwodo, who made the observation on Wednesday in Abuja, said universities should serve as the epoch of decency and decorum.

He regretted that many universities embarked on award of honorary degrees, especially to those who had not contributed anything meaningful to the educational development of the nation.

Mr. Nwodo said such class of degree should have been awarded to models and individuals who contributed immensely to the growth and development of the country, in their various endeavours.

“It should not be seen as a showbiz for mediocre and corrupt politicians desperately searching for image laundering to cover their failures,” he said.

The party chairman urged senate of the universities to curb corruption in the universities to bring back “the lost glory of university education in the country”. He expressed optimism that such would help in arresting the fall in the standard of education, and also make students aim at excellence in their academic pursuits, among other benefits.

Mr. Nwodo also urged the Federal Government to set up minimum standard for those to receive such awards, to distinguish between those who merited the award and those who did not.

A new policy drafted by the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities has recommended banning the nation’s tertiary institutions from awarding honorary doctorate degrees to political office holders or appointees.

The policy is aimed at reforming the nation’s education sector.