Barely five days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, threatened to embark on strike nationwide over the non-constitution of governing councils for universities, the federal government has constituted the councils.
ASUU had described dissolution of the Council, few months ago, by the federal government as illegal, warning that Nigerians should not hold it responsible if it embarks on strike over the issue.
The president of the union, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke issued the warning during a press conference on May 14.
He said, “ASUU shall do all within its powers to ensure that the dignity of the academia is fully restored in line with practices obtainable in forward-looking climes.
“So, Nigerians should hold the Federal and State Governments responsible if the matter of Governing Councils is allowed to snowball into an avoidable industrial crisis.”
Less that a week after the threat, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointments of at least 555 persons to serve as Pro-chancellors/Chairmen and members of Governing Boards of 111 federal universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
The magazine learned that the appointees were recommended by the Ministry of Education, before the president gave his approval.
According to the advertorial from the ministry, chairpersons and members were appointed for each institutions.
The appointment “ is from the Federal Ministry of Education…they make the nominations and forward them to the President to sign. But they are at liberty to release it from their end,” Bayo Onanuga, a presidential spokesman said.
