President Tinubu Greenlights 555 New University Board Appointments
President Bola Tinubu has given his official endorsement to the appointments of no less than 555 individuals who will assume roles as Pro-chancellors/Chairpersons and members of Governing Boards across 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education.
These appointments come as a result of Tinubu’s approval of a carefully curated list of nominees put forth by the Ministry of Education.
The list, meticulously crafted and signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has paved the way for the formalization of governance structures within these educational institutions.
As detailed in an advertisement released by the Ministry of Education, each institution will see the installation of a chairperson alongside four members to constitute their respective governing bodies.
This strategic move underscores a commitment to ensuring effective leadership and management across the educational landscape, thereby fostering an environment conducive to academic excellence and institutional development.
“The inauguration and retreat sessions for the Governing Councils are scheduled to occur on Thursday, May 30th, and Friday, May 31st, 2024, respectively, at the premises of the National Universities Commission, located at 26 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Both events are set to commence promptly at 9:00 am each day,” announced Walson-Jack.
Upon seeking confirmation, the Presidency clarified that the provided information stemmed from the Federal Ministry of Education. “This announcement originates from the Federal Ministry of Education. They are responsible for nominating candidates, whose names are then submitted to the President for final approval.
However, they have the authority to publicize such information as well,” elucidated Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, during an interview with our correspondent on Saturday.
These appointments come amidst recent tensions within the educational sector, notably exemplified by the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) recent threats of a potential strike. Such actions, if carried out, could severely disrupt the academic calendar and exacerbate existing challenges within Nigeria’s higher education domain.
On Tuesday, the union expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s neglect in appointing Governing Councils for federal universities. In addition, they criticized what they perceive as the indifferent approach of the administration led by President Bola Tinubu towards academic affairs within these institutions.
During a briefing held at the University of Abuja, the consortium of academics highlighted their concerns, further questioning the adequacy of the recently proposed salary increments. Specifically, they contested the proposed 35 per cent increase for professors and the 25 per cent raise for other academic staff within the university system.
President Tinubu Greenlights 555 New University Board Appointments
