The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has voiced serious apprehensions regarding the absence of Governing Councils in all federal universities across Nigeria, asserting that such a situation renders their operations illegitimate and poses significant risks to these academic institutions.
In an exclusive interview with THE PUNCH’s correspondent on Sunday, ASUU’s National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed dismay over the dissolution of all governing councils in federal universities by the administration of President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, citing it as a perilous and unlawful move for universities to function without proper governing bodies.
The governing council serves as the supreme authority of a university, overseeing policy formulation, financial matters, and institutional assets, including public relations.
Moreover, the council is entrusted with critical responsibilities such as approving annual budgets, overseeing staff recruitment and promotions, endorsing new academic initiatives, and ensuring alignment with the university’s mission and objectives. Notably, one of the council’s pivotal duties includes the nomination of the Vice-Chancellor.
Osodeke emphasized, “The absence of Governing Councils in all federal universities for over five months is deeply concerning. These universities are operating on shaky legal grounds, with the Minister assuming the role of the Governing Council. With impending vacancies in Vice-Chancellor positions, the absence of a Governing Council complicates the recruitment process.
Urgent action is required from the government to reconstitute these councils and mitigate the associated risks.”
He stressed the urgent need for the Federal Government to promptly reestablish Governing Councils across all universities or reinstate the unlawfully dissolved ones, underscoring that their removal lacked due process and legality.
Osodeke argued that the arbitrary dissolution of the councils violated established protocols, as their tenures typically span four years and can only be terminated in the event of misconduct.
“The government must expedite the reconstitution of Governing Councils or reinstate those unlawfully removed, as per due process. Their tenure is safeguarded by law, and arbitrary dissolution undermines the institutional framework,” Osodeke remarked, highlighting the imperative of adhering to legal procedures in governance matters.
