THE NATION
No fewer than 52 universities are operating without governing councils with the institutions’ vice chancellors acting arbitrarily, including awarding contracts questionably. Lecturers’ promotions are also stalled, MANAGING EDITOR, NORTHERN OPERATION, YUSUF ALLI reports
All is not well in the nation’s ivory tower as 52 universities, owned by the Federal Government, have no Governing Councils. Out of the 52, the councils of 42 were dissolved in July last year barely one and a half years to the end of their tenure on July 15, 2025. The remaining 10 universities, which were established in July 2021, are yet to have councils.
It was learnt that the development has forced vice chancellors to act arbitrarily, including questionable award of contracts. It was also gathered that the absence of councils has slowed down the recruitment and promotion of lecturers.
The councils are expected to perform the following functions, including approving the university’s annual budget, supervising staff recruitment and promotion and approving new academic programmes. The councils are also to ensure that each university functions in accordance with its goal and objectives.
It is also the duty of a governing council of a university to see through the process of nominating its vice chancellor. But seven months after the dissolution of 42 governing councils, Federal universities have no “concrete direction”.
It was gathered that the Federal Ministry of Education was in a fix on how to manage the legal effect of the violation of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2012.
Investigation also revealed that there was pressure on the government to reverse the dissolution of the 42 councils as done by the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari.
The immediate past Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, inaugurated the 42 Governing Councils of the Federal Universities on July 15, 2021.
The councils were, however, dissolved in July 2023 contrary to the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2012.
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