President Bola Tinubu has mandated a thorough review of the newly announced governing councils for federal tertiary institutions following significant backlash.
The Ministry of Education had recently released a list of appointees for the governing councils of 111 federal institutions, which included 50 universities, 37 polytechnics, and 24 colleges of education.
The list comprised a diverse group of technocrats, politicians, and traditional rulers.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, had initially announced that the inauguration and retreat for the council members were scheduled for May 30 and 31, 2024. However, the announcement was met with strong opposition from various groups, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), who called for a reconsideration of the appointments.
In response, President Tinubu ordered a comprehensive review of the appointments. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed this in a statement released on Thursday.
“President Bola Tinubu has instructed a total and comprehensive review of the recently announced governing boards of tertiary institutions in Nigeria before the planned inauguration and retreat for the nominees,” Onanuga stated.
He noted that public reactions indicated that the nominations did not adequately reflect the federal character of the nation, with some states receiving disproportionate representation. President Tinubu has taken these concerns into account and is committed to ensuring that the appointments align with the constitutional principle of federal character.
“The review will consider national representation to ensure every region of the country is appropriately represented,” Onanuga added.
This directive underscores President Tinubu’s dedication to maintaining equitable and inclusive governance across Nigeria’s educational institutions.