The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), specifically the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) chapter, has issued a plea to the Federal Government to reestablish the governing councils of its universities.
This appeal, directed to President Bola Tinubu, highlights the critical necessity for universities to function legally and seamlessly, adhering to established protocols and preserving their autonomy.
According to a statement signed by Prof. Nuruddeen Al-Mustapha and Mr. Shaibu Sadiku, Chairman and Secretary of the ASUU-UDUS chapter respectively, the absence of governing councils undermines university autonomy and independence.
The union emphasized the importance of following legal procedures to ensure the integrity of educational institutions.
Furthermore, ASUU-UDUS called upon the Ministry of Education to investigate recent violations of the law by certain universities.
The dissolution of all Federal University Governing Councils in June 2023, orchestrated by the National Universities Commission (NUC), was cited as a significant setback, as it disregarded established procedures and autonomy.
Of particular concern was the unauthorized advertising of vacancies for Vice-Chancellors and other principal officers in federal universities. ASUU-UDUS stressed that such actions not only contravene proper procedures but also pose a threat to the academic freedom and integrity of Nigeria’s public universities.
The union emphasized that university laws delineate the composition, roles, and dissolution procedures of governing councils, outlining protocols for the appointment of principal officers in the absence of councils.
It underscored that the transfer of council functions to the Minister or the Visitor violates principles of transparency, equity, and merit-based selection.
