LAGOS,Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi zone, criticized the recent appointments of governing boards across Federal Tertiary Institutions by the Bola Tinubu administration.
The union insists that the government should reinstate the previously dissolved members instead of making new appointments.
The Bauchi zone, which includes representatives from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State University Gadau, Federal University Kashere, Gombe State University, Plateau State University, and the University of Jos, made these comments following a meeting in Gombe State.
Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Namo Aku, emphasized that ASUU did not request new board appointments but instead urged the reinstatement of the previously dismissed members.
Aku expressed concern that the absence of governing councils has led Vice Chancellors to act with unchecked authority.
He said, “NEC-in-session expressed utter dismay over the continued erosion of autonomy of public universities, which is a clear violation of the Universities Miscellaneous ACT 1993 (as amended in 2012). The illegal dissolution of the Governing Councils by the President Tinubu-led Government, as well as some state governments, is tantamount to a coup against the public University System.
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“This unwholesome act has emboldened some Vice-chancellors to govern universities as emperors/emperesses with the introduction of obnoxious policies that are antithetical to the university culture. Some university administrators now place adverts for the appointment of vice-chancellors without authorisation from the Governing Councils.
“Some vice-chancellors, in collaboration with Federal and State Ministries of Education, engage in illegal recruitment and discipline of staff as well as the management of university finances without regard for transparency and accountability.
“ASUU condemns these acts of corruption and calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as affected State Governments to respect the laws establishing the universities, by re-instating Governing Councils whose terms have not lapsed and to re-constitute those whose terms have lapsed.”
While calling for a review of Nimi Briggs’ committee report in light of the current economic conditions,Aku added, “In 2009, the Federal and State Governments signed a comprehensive agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The Agreement provided for a new salary package for academic staff and improved working conditions and funding of universities.”
Aku added, “The Agreement also reaffirmed the autonomy of the universities as contained in the previous agreements. It was agreed that the agreement would be reviewed every three years. Since 2012, the Union has prevailed on Federal and State Governments to return to the negotiation table to no avail.
“After a series of agitations and strike actions, the re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreement began in 2017, first with Dr. Wale Babalakin as Chairman of the Re-negotiation Committee and later Emeritus Prof. Munzali Jibril and the late Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs. A draft Agreement was reached with the late Prof. Briggs-led Committee in 2021. Alas, agents of the Buhari-led Government refused to sign the draft Agreement for implementation.”
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Additionally, Immediate Past Coordinator Lawan Abubakar stated that the union did not request the reconstitution of the boards, saying, “Government should do the needful because the union will meet at the end of timeframe given at the National Executive Council meeting. It’s for the government to do what is needed.
The constitution of the governing council that the government has just done was not initially part of our request. We asked for reinstatement because it was unlawful for the government to dissolve the universities governing councils.”
Comrade Alphonsus Alubo, SAN, also called for the restoration of the council boards, stating, “Nigerians appear to welcome the constitution of councils but for us we ask for reinstatement of the councils, the restoration of councils taken away.
“We will meet to discuss this matter but legally, these are statutory issues if you say someone has a term of four or five years let him exhaust that term what is the guarantee that it won’t happen tomorrow.”