President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of 555 individuals to serve as Pro-Chancellors/Chairmen and members of the governing boards of 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
This decision followed a list of nominees provided by the Ministry of Education.
Advertorial
The Ministry of Education, in an advertorial signed by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, detailed the appointments, which include a chairperson and four board members for each institution.
The Ministry announced that the inauguration and a retreat for the new governing councils will be held on Thursday, May 30, and Friday, May 31, 2024, at the National Universities Commission in Abuja, with both events starting at 9:00 am.
Advertorial
Confirming the appointments, the Presidency indicated that the nominations were forwarded by the Ministry of Education for presidential approval.
“The nominations come from the Federal Ministry of Education, which sends them to the President for approval. They are at liberty to release the information,” said Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
These appointments were made shortly after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) threatened to initiate another strike, potentially disrupting the academic calendar.
ASUU criticized the Federal Government for delays in appointing governing councils for federal universities and expressed dissatisfaction with the President’s handling of academic affairs.
During a briefing at the University of Abuja, ASUU also criticized the recently announced 35% salary increase for professors and 25% increase for other university academics, stating these measures were insufficient and indicative of the government’s indifferent attitude towards higher education issues.
