ASUU Faults NUC’s Call for Dissolution of University Governing Councils, Describing it as a Flagrant Abuse of University Autonomy
By Daniel Agada, Jos
Sequel to the circular recently issued to Vice Chancellors by the National University Commission (NUC) signed by Chris Maiyaki, calling for the dissolution of the governing council of the universities, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) described the development as flagrant abuse of the university autonomy.
ASUU who vehemently kicked against the NUC decision, acknowledged the governing councils of university as the highest decision making body in the university system.
The Union urged president Ahmed Bola Tinubu to prevail on NUC and Federal Ministry of education, noting that the statutory laws and legal framework in respect to university system is sacrosanct, and if allowed NUC decision to hold it would be tantamount to disruption of the smooth operations of the university.
Prof. Chris Yilgwan, ASUU chairman university of Jos branch, while speaking to newsmen at the ASUU Secretariat in Jos, revealed that the university councils is not like any other board because they supposed to exist in their four years tenure in accordance with the law.
Yilgwan said section 2 of the university act as amended in 2003 clearly spelled out the autonomy of the university.
“We experienced similar situation in 2015 when former president Muhammadu Buhari came on board and now it looks like reoccurrence. When they came everybody want to dissolved everybody without recourse to statutory laws and legal framework.
“The law is clear in regard to the constitution of university councils. Their tenure is four years and if their four years elapse they should be constitute immediately, because if you leave a vacuum your creating a problem for the easy administration of the university”, he stated.
University of Jos branch chairman of ASUU further expressed surprise by NUC decision,saying instead of NUC been the watchdog for university administration but rather turn out to be the one issuing the circular seeking for councils dissolution.
“If NUC which is meant to be a watchdog and the one that should be defending the university system is doing this kind of thing then there is a problem.
“So, were drawing attention and calling on Mr president to prevailed on NUC and Federal Ministry of education that they claimed they have received directive from to reverse their decision because this decision was flagrant abuse of the university autonomy.
“And what they are trying to do is to cripple the functions of the university because the council decide administrative and governance issue surrounding the running of the university.
“So when Senate takes a decision is it ratify? It has to be taking to council. When Vice Chancellors on behalf of Senate takes decision it goes to council.
“So, if you don’t have a council your saying everything should be on limbo which is what they are trying to do, and were speaking against it because we see the looming danger in allowing this kind of decision to stand”, Yilgwan narrated.
