“University Councils Are Not Dumping Grounds for Old Politicians” – ASUU Protests in Anambra

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the federal government to reverse the recent appointment of elderly politicians to the governing councils of Nigerian universities. The appeal was made by Prof. Kingsley Ubaorji, ASUU chairman at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, during a protest held on Tuesday, July 2.

The protest was organized to demand the implementation of all renegotiated aspects of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and to address other pressing issues affecting the education sector.

Prof. Ubaorji criticized the federal government for arbitrarily dissolving university councils and appointing aged politicians without due process. He emphasized that governing councils should not be used as retirement homes for old politicians lacking knowledge of university administration.

“ASUU demands the immediate reversal of the appointment of elderly politicians as members of the governing councils of federal universities in Nigeria,” Ubaorji stated. “Those appointed lack the necessary knowledge of university administration. University councils cannot be a dumping ground for old politicians.”

He condemned the dissolution of governing councils without due process, stressing that such actions undermine the autonomy and smooth functioning of Nigerian universities. “The illegal and arbitrary dissolution of governing councils whose tenures have not ended undermines the autonomy and smooth functioning of our universities. This cannot be tolerated as it sets a very bad precedent,” he added.

Ubaorji also highlighted issues with the newly constituted councils, noting that they are filled with very old politicians who do not understand the academic system and its administrative processes. He called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to reverse its decision on the dissolution of university governing councils.

“Our public universities should not serve as retirement homes for politicians. We call on the government to reverse its decision on the dissolution of university governing councils,” he said. “The proliferation of public universities without adequate funding and infrastructure does not bode well for our university system.”

Following the protest march, Ubaorji warned that the union would shut down academic activities in the nation’s universities for the next ten years if ongoing negotiations with the federal government proved unfruitful. He lamented that lecturers had to resort to street protests, calling it an insult to the teaching profession.

“The government is aware of our actions. There are ongoing negotiations between ASUU NEC and the federal government. If these negotiations do not yield positive results, we will close the universities for the next ten years,” he vowed.