IBADAN, Nigeria (Voice of Nigeria) – The Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn the order mandating vice-chancellors to reopen tertiary institutions.
This comes up after the committee of vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities revealed that they would meet on Tuesday to decide on the government’s directive to reopen their schools for academic activities.
The meeting was confirmed by Prof Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, in an exclusive interview with Tribune on Monday.
Recall that in a circular issued on Monday, the National Universities Commission (NUC), had mandated vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors, and governing councils to re-open federal universities following months of closure due to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.
The Federal Government had dragged ASUU to the National Industrial Court and asked it to compel the union to call off its seven months old strike that has paralysed the academic activities in the nation’s public universities.
But on the same day, the NUC issued another circular, tagged NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/136, in which it withdrew the order.
“I have been directed to withdraw the NUC Circular Ref: NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135, and dated September 23, 2022, on the above subject,” the circular, signed by the Director, Finance and Account of the NUC, Sam Onazi, read.
“Consequently, the said circular stands withdrawn. All pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils, as well as vice-chancellors of federal universities, are to please note.
“Further development and information would be communicated to all relevant stakeholders. Please, accept the assurances of the Executive Secretary’s warmest regards.”
The letter was tagged “Withdrawal of circular NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 dated September 23, 2022”.
A copy of the circular is seen below:
Before the order, the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja had ruled that ASUU should call off the strike, a move which the union rejected and had since filed an appeal.
The counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana, based the appeal on 14 grounds.