At last, the federal government, Thursday, inaugurated the governing councils of universities, polytechnics and other federal tertiary institutions in the country.
The inauguration came barely one year after the government dissolved the governing councils of all of its tertiary institutions, leaving them to operate without governing councils.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu, in June 2023, shortly after being sworn in as president, announced the dissolution of governing councils of federal tertiary institutions, leaving them to operate for almost a year without governing councils.
Lecturers in the nation’s public universities had on June,19,2024, picked a hole in the inability of the government to appoint new governing councils, threatening to embark on a national strike if the government failed to do so within three weeks.
To avert the looming strike, the government immediately appointed the governing councils of all of its tertiary institutions.
Inaugurating the councils, Thursday, in Abuja, Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said the event marked an important milestone in the quest to improve the education sector and re-engineer the governance structure of Nigerian tertiary institutions.
He expressed confidence that with the inauguration, the nation’s tertiary institutions will achieve a remarkable transformation for the benefit of our children, and generations to come.
He, however,charged the new governing councils to get themselves aquainted with current acts of their various institutions, government policies, white papers (if any); circulars, gazettes and other relevant documents, relating to the institutions and those of general application in Ministries, Departments and Agencies,MDAs.
Prof. Mamman said:“I, therefore, charge you to explore diverse funding sources, including partnerships with the private sector and international organisations, alumni, endowment and sponsored research to ensure financial sustainability of your Institutions. It is however imperative, that the limited funds allocated by government are judiciously utilised.”
He spoke further:“As governing councils, one of your responsibilities is to ensure good management, healthy growth and development of your institutions. One of the challenges that governing councils regularly face during their tenure is the appointment of principal officers.
“As a council, you must ensure that proper attention and priority are given to the relevant Acts of the Institutions and Government guidelines for the process of such appointments as well as ensure fairness and transparency. Governing Councils must, at all times, adhere to the ideals of transparency and probity.”
He called on the governing councils to encourage responsible unionism in their respective institutions while arresting the problems of cultism and drug abuse by students, adding that effective strategies should be put in place by Councils for early detection and eradication of social vices such as sexual harassment, theft, extortion and inducement.
“Let me clarify that there is a dear line of operations between the Management and respective Governing Councils of the tertiary Institutions. Councils are not to interference with the day-to-day management of human, financial, and material resources of the Institutions,” he added.
Speaking earlier,Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, expressed confidence in the presence of a crop of eminent, quintessential, well-respected Nigerians in the councils, who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of Nigeria in their various fields of endeavour.
He said:“I use this opportunity to congratulate you for these well-deserved appointments as Chairmen and Members of the Governing Councils of our tertiary institutions.
“Worthy of mention at this point is the fact that Nigerians have been yearning for quality functional education, fit for purpose and for sustainable development and also education that will equip our citizens and make them competent to deal with global emerging issues.
“I wish to inform this distinguished gathering that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,is determined to give Nigerians the best education at all levels in his Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Looking at members of the newly inaugurated councils,he said,” This is one of the reasons why the government chose you as the right foot soldiers in achieving this laudable agenda.”