Tinubu Accedes To ASUU’s Demand, Appoints Governing Board Members For 111 Tertiary Institutions

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointments of 555 people to the governing boards of federal universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education in a bid to prevent another nationwide industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

 The academic union had threatened to go on strike to protest the absence of governing councils in all federal universities. 

Among those appointed are notable figures such as former SGF Yayale Ahmed, former governor of Bauchi State Isa Yuguda, Mohammed Abacha, and former Chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, along with 551 others.

 Senator Udo Udoma has been appointed as Chairman and Pro-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira, while Mr. Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has been appointed as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos.

 The appointments were made based on a list of nominees selected by the Ministry of Education.

 The 555 appointees will serve as Pro-Chancellors/Chairmen and members of Governing Boards of 111 federal universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education. 

The governing councils’ inauguration and retreat are scheduled to be held on May 30 and 31 at the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) headquarters.

 The absence of governing councils had caused concerns in several institutions and had hindered the nomination of vice-chancellors, recruitment of important officials, and the promotion of personnel.

 ASUU had threatened to hold the government responsible if the matter of governing councils led to an avoidable industrial crisis.

 The President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, had expressed the union's rejection of the ongoing illegalities and flagrant violation of university autonomy in public universities due to the non-reinstatement/reconstitution of governing councils.