Tinubu Approves Appointment Of Governing Councils For Tertiary Institutions
Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, on Friday approved the reconstitution of the Governing Councils and Boards of federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nnamdi Mbaeri, made this known on Friday, noting that the approval was given for the effective management of Nigerian tertiary institutions across the country.
The statement read, “President Bola Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of Governing Councils and Boards of Federal Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education for the effective management of Nigerian tertiary institutions across the country.”
A total of 560 individuals were appointed to the governing councils and boards of federal government-owned tertiary institutions.
While for the University of Ibadan, the president appointed Chief Bisi Akande as the Chairman of the governing council. The board members are Alexander Ajipe, Nelson Alapa, Ifeoma Nwankwo, and Prof. Emmanuel Alo.
Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) was appointed as the Chairman of the governing council of the University of Lagos. The council members are Bello Kumo, Prof. Idowu Mark, Niyi Akande, and Bola Njoku.
Isa Yuguda chairs the board of the National Open University. The council members are Goddy Etta, Yomi Balogun, Deborah Apah, and Hingah Biem.
Siyan Oyeweso was appointed to head the governing council of the Obafemi Awolowo University, while Edward Sarki; Joseph Abaagu; Wahaab Owokoniran, and Abubakar Kachaalla are members of the council.
Adebayo Shittu, Muiz Banire, and Senator Florence Ita Giwa were appointed as the chairpersons of the governing boards for David Umahi University of Medicine in Ebonyi State, Federal University of Transportation in Katsina State, and Federal Polytechnic in Ugep, Cross River State, respectively among others.
President Tinubu had in May approved the appointments of new members of Governing Boards of 111 Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Following his assent to a list of nominees selected by the Federal Ministry of Education, President Tinubu gave approval for the appointments of no fewer than 555 persons to serve as Pro-chancellors/Chairmen and members of governing boards of the 111 tertiary institutions across the country.
An advertorial by the Education Ministry, signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, showed the appointment of a chairperson and four members for each of the institutions.
Walson-Jack stated in the advertorial that “The inauguration and retreat for the Governing Councils will take place on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31, 2024, at the National Universities Commission, 26 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Both events will commence at 9:00am daily.”
Confirming the list, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, as saying that “This 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.”
This came a few days after members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) threatened to embark on a strike.
It was reported how ASUU on Tuesday had decried the failure of the Nigerian government to appoint governing councils for federal universities, and faulted what it described as the nonchalant attitude of President Tinubu-led Nigerian government to matters about academics in the country’s universities.
Issuing the strike threat during a press briefing at the University of Abuja, ASUU also rejected the Nigerian government’s 35 percent salary increment for professors and the 25 percent salary increment for other academic staff in Nigerian universities.
