Politics

Appointment: Tinubu orders review of governing council for Nigerian tertiary institutions

By Emmanuel Saviour President Bola Tinubu has mandated a review of the recently announced governing boards for Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, highlighting issues of representation and fairness in the appointments. In a statement issued on Thursday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the nominations for the governing boards failed to…

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By Emmanuel Saviour

President Bola Tinubu has mandated a review of the recently announced governing boards for Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, highlighting issues of representation and fairness in the appointments.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the nominations for the governing boards failed to reflect the federal character of Nigeria. This discrepancy led to some states having multiple appointees while others had only one.

The announcement, titled “President Tinubu Directs Comprehensive Review of Governing Boards of Tertiary Institutions,” underscored the President’s commitment to ensuring equitable representation.

“The nomination did not reflect the federal character of the country as some states got just one nomination, while some others got many”, Onanuga stated.

The original list, sanctioned by President Tinubu, included 555 individuals appointed as Pro-Chancellors/Chairmen and members of the Governing Boards for 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. This list was compiled by the Ministry of Education but has faced significant backlash from the public and educational unions.

Both the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have voiced their discontent, leading to public protests. These groups argue that the current appointments do not meet the constitutional requirement for federal character, which is intended to ensure diverse representation from all parts of Nigeria.

In response to the feedback, President Tinubu ordered a complete review of the list. Onanuga conveyed the President’s position, stating, “President Tinubu is committed to ensuring strict compliance with the principle of federal character as entrenched in the constitution. The review will also take into consideration national spread and ensure every part of the country is adequately represented.”

The inauguration and retreat for the nominees are scheduled for May 31, 2024. This event will now likely be delayed until the review is completed.

Among the high-profile appointees is Prof. Attahiru Jega, a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, who was named Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. The board members include Mary Yisa, R. O. Kazeem, Prof. Usman Musa, and Dr. Anthony Usoro.

Similarly, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) was appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of the University of Lagos. His board members include Prof. S.E. Ogbeide, Rufai Chanchangi, Mrs. Glory Ekpo-Oho, and Patricia Yakubu.

The directive for a review emphasizes the President’s resolve to address the concerns raised and to ensure that the appointments adhere to the principles of fairness and national unity. This move is seen as an effort to maintain trust and transparency in the administration’s handling of educational governance.

As the review process unfolds, it remains to be seen how the adjustments will impact the governance of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and whether it will quell the discontent among the educational unions and the public.

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