President Bola Tinubu has called for a thorough review of the recently announced governing boards of federal tertiary institutions before the planned inauguration and retreat for the nominees.
The Ministry of Education had released a list last week, detailing governing councils for 111 federal institutions, including 50 universities, 37 polytechnics, and 24 colleges of education. The list featured names of technocrats, politicians, and traditional rulers.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, had announced that the inauguration and retreat for the councils would take place on May 30 and 31, 2024. However, the list was met with opposition from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), among others.
In response to the backlash, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, released a statement on Thursday indicating that President Tinubu had ordered a comprehensive review of the nominations.
“President Bola Tinubu has directed a total and comprehensive review of the recently announced governing boards of tertiary institutions in Nigeria before the inauguration and retreat being planned for the nominees,” Onanuga stated.
The President’s directive came after public reactions highlighted that the nominations did not reflect the federal character of the country, with some states receiving only one nomination while others received many. President Tinubu emphasized the need for strict compliance with the federal character principle as entrenched in the constitution.
“President Tinubu is committed to ensuring strict compliance with the principle of federal character as entrenched in the constitution. The review will also take into consideration national spread and ensure every part of the country is adequately represented,” Onanuga added.
The review aims to address concerns and ensure a fair representation of all regions in the governing boards of the country’s tertiary institutions.
