NIGERIA’S public university system is swimming in controversy again. The fresh storm blew open shortly after the Academic Staff Union of Universities threatened to strike if President Bola Tinubu did not reconstitute the governing councils of universities. A few days before the ultimatum expired, the Federal Government responded by naming the council members. Intriguingly, instead of dousing the tensions, the reconstitution has instigated a new round of dispute. This is a bad omen. It introduces fresh concerns for a system already reeling from incessant disruptions.

Early in May, ASUU asked the Federal Government to reinstate the governing councils of the universities. ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke said the absence was affecting the smooth running of the institutions. He added that this had destroyed university autonomy as the vice-chancellors were running the show themselves.

This is an abnormal situation. President Bola Tinubu dissolved the councils shortly after he assumed office in June 2023. It is good that ASUU forced the issue.

After ASUU’s ultimatum, Tinubu reconstituted the councils. The government released a list of 555 pro-chancellors, chairmen, and members for the 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

It is a hasty reaction to ASUU’s demand. Shortly after this, Tinubu ordered a review of the lists. “The nomination did not reflect the federal character of the country as some states got just one nomination, while some others got many,” a presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said.

This is not ASUU’s demand. It might provoke further tensions in the days ahead.

The directive for a review followed significant public backlash, including protests from the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics.

Governing councils, going by the extant law establishing universities, are the highest finance and administrative decision-making organs of the universities.

A council is saddled with the responsibilities of approving the university’s annual budget, supervising staff recruitment and promotion, approving new academic programmes, and ensuring that the university functions according to its goals and objectives.

Of course, the vice-chancellor, the deputy vice-chancellor, the registrar, and other prominent members from diverse fields of expertise are members of the council. The members are usually appointed by the visitor.

On its part, ASUU reiterates that the dissolution of governing councils prematurely was not only an attack on the university system but also contravened the autonomy of public universities as enshrined in the Universities’ Miscellaneous Act. According to ASUU, the idea of vice-chancellors running the universities in conjunction with the Minister of Education due to the absence of the councils is illegal.

Apprised of the critical role of governing councils in the effective management of the university system, the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in July 2003, signed the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Act 2003 into law. According to the Act, governing councils shall have a tenure of four years from the date of their inauguration.

The Act provides that where a council is found to be incompetent and corrupt, the visitor shall dissolve it and a new council immediately constituted for the effective functioning of the university. The Tinubu administration has however paid no heed to the law, leading to protests by stakeholders, particularly members of the academia and the various unions.

In the 2023 Webometrics ranking of universities, Nigerian universities performed poorly. Therefore, the institutions cannot afford another disruptive strike as they lag their global peers because of strikes, poor funding, shabby facilities, and inadequate lecturers and hostels.

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