Just days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government over its failure to reconstitute the governing councils of universities across the country, the government has released a list of members for 111 tertiary institutions. These institutions include universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Despite this move, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, criticized the Federal Government’s decision, stating that the demand was to reinstate the “illegally” dissolved governing councils, not to create new ones. Prof. Osodeke emphasized that ASUU’s demands extend beyond the reinstatement of governing councils to include other unmet requests from the union.
In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced the dissolution of the governing councils of major government agencies and institutions, including those of higher learning. This action has been a point of contention for ASUU.
Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, Prof. Osodeke reiterated ASUU’s position: “It is not just about the governing council alone; it is just one of them. Secondly, we said they should reinstate the illegally dissolved governing council. We didn’t say they should constitute a new one. As far as we are concerned, they have not met any of our demands.”
The release of the new list of governing council members for 111 tertiary institutions comes as the Federal Government faces increasing pressure from ASUU to address broader issues affecting the education sector.