Nigeria's Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Maman, prepares to inaugurate new governing councils for universities, polytechnics, and colleges amidst ASUU's concerns. The move aims to resolve governance gaps and industrial unrest in higher education institutions.
Nigeria's Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Maman, is scheduled to inaugurate newly appointed members of governing councils for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education on Thursday, July 4. This comes after a prolonged period of operational uncertainty following the dissolution of previous councils by President Bola Tinubu in June last year. The absence of these councils had led to challenges in decision-making at various institutions, notably causing unrest at the University of Abuja.
In response to pressure from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which had issued ultimatums for council reinstatement, the Ministry of Education recently finalized a reviewed list of council members. The list, aimed at complying with federal character regulations, underwent revisions after public criticism.
The inauguration ceremony, slated to take place at the NUC headquarters in Abuja, will be followed by a retreat for the newly appointed council members. Due to venue limitations, external participation in the event is restricted, with only Vice Chancellors and Registrars allowed to accompany their respective council members.
The move is seen as crucial for restoring governance structures essential for strategic decision-making and academic policy formulation across Nigeria's tertiary education landscape. It marks a pivotal moment in addressing longstanding administrative gaps that have affected institutions nationwide amidst ongoing challenges in the education sector.
