The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Bauchi zone, condemned the appointment of governing boards throughout federal tertiary institutions, urging the Bola Tinubu-led administration to reinstate previously disbanded members.
The ASUU zone, which includes officials from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State University Gadau, Federal University Kashere, Gombe State University, Plateau State University, and the University of Jos, made the announcements following a meeting in Gombe State.
Speaking, the ASUU Zonal Coordinator Comrade Namo Aku stated that the union did not demand new board nominations but that Tinubu should reinstate previously expelled members.
Aku revealed that the vacuum created by the removal of governing council boards forced vice chancellors to function as emperors and empresses.
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.
“This unwholesome act has emboldened some vice chancellors to govern universities as emperors or emperesses with the introduction of obnoxious policies that are antithetical to the university culture. Some university administrators now place advertisements for the appointment of vice chancellors without authorization from the governing councils.
“Some vice chancellors, in collaboration with the 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 advocating a review of Nimi Briggs’ committee findings given current economic realities, 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 for 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 the 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.”
Also, Immediate Past Coordinator Lawan Abubakar stated that the union did not seek board reconstitution, stating, “Government should do the needful because the union will meet at the end of the timeframe given at the National Executive Council meeting.”
The government is responsible for carrying out the necessary actions. The constitution of the governing council, which the administration recently completed, was not part of our first proposal.
We requested reinstatement since it was illegal for the government to dissolve the university governing councils.”
Also speaking, Comrade Alphonsus Alubo, SAN, urged for the restoration of council boards, adding, “Nigerians appear to welcome the constitution of councils, but for us, we ask for the reinstatement of councils, the restoration of councils that have been removed.
