Joy Emodi, Jega, Olanipekun Among New Council Members for 111 Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

Less than 72 hours after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) demanded the reinstatement of suspended university governing councils, the Nigerian government has announced the new members for the councils of 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

Among the notable appointments are former INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega; Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun and Yusuf Alli; former NUC Executive Secretary, Peter Okebukola; labour activist, Issa Aremu, and former Senator Joy Emodi. These distinguished individuals will chair the councils of various academic institutions.

On Tuesday, ASUU issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, demanding the reinstatement of dissolved university governing councils and addressing other concerns such as the use of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for salary payments. The Federal Ministry of Education, responding to the ultimatum, promised that the list of new council members would be released promptly.

The list, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Didi Walson-Jack, includes five members each for 50 universities, 37 polytechnics, and 24 colleges of education.

Attahiru Jega will chair the council of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUS).

Wole Olanipekun will head the University of Lagos (UNILAG) council.

Yusuf Alli will lead the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) council.

Peter Okebukola will chair the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) council.

Issa Aremu will oversee the Federal College of Education (Technical), Keana, Nasarawa State.

Isa Yuguda, former Bauchi State Governor, will chair the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) council.

Joy Emodi, a former Senator, will head the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State council.

Yayale Ahmed, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, will lead the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria council.

Adamu Rasheed, immediate-past NUC Executive Secretary, will chair the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State council.

The newly appointed governing council members will be inaugurated and attend a retreat on May 30 and 31 at the National Universities Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu dissolved the governing councils of major government agencies, including those of higher education institutions. This move was criticized for violating the University Miscellaneous Act, which grants autonomy to university councils.

ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke called the dissolution illegal and demanded the reinstatement of councils whose tenures had not expired. He warned of potential industrial action if the government’s decisions were not reversed.

It remains unclear if ASUU will accept the new appointments or continue to push for the reinstatement of the suspended councils. The union has stated that it will reconvene in two weeks to decide on further actions.