A coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) has said the dissolution of the governing councils of federal universities by President Bola Tinubu last year was illegal as it did not follow provisions of Universities Autonomy Act No. 1, 2007.
COCSON said the federal government, by the existing laws, has no power to dissolve the governing council, unless they are found incompetent or wanting, saying, the university system is by this action left hanging without a head and now subjected to political dictates.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the coalition’s president, Obiora Chidozie said Tinubu acted in contravention of Section 3(2A) of the Universities Autonomy (Amendment) Act, 2007.
The section states that, “The Council so constituted shall have a tenure of four years from the date of its inauguration provided that where a Council is found to be incompetent and corrupt it shall be dissolved by the Visitor and a new Council shall be immediately constituted for the effective functioning of the university.”
Chidozie said the university system is presently almost grounded as even promotions, matriculations, and convocations are not held as they should at this time of the year since the pro-chancellors and councils are expected to approve the dates, including honorary doctorate and other awards and at best, vice chancellors have to come before civil servants in Abuja for approval.
“Another clear example of the dangers of dissolving governing councils in varsities comes handy with the raging brawl at the Federal University of Health Science, Otukpo, where fear of implosion had gripped the institution after the vice chancellor had reportedly sacked his deputy over lack of cooperation. Such a development would not have happened if the council was in place.
“From what we observed the booming chaos is worsened because the Registrar is not fully acquainted with his duties as a university registrar. Like the vice chancellor, he is inexperienced at the university level where he had not worked prior to his being smuggled into the university from National Universities Commission (NUC) on the altar of nepotism. Hence, all these happenings should be of serious concern to President Tinubu.
“There’s been also indiscriminate increment of tuition fees of different universities across the country at the expense of the ordinary Nigerian who is still suffering the excruciating pain occasioned by the removal of petrol subsidy,” he said.
Chidozie maintained that, if sanity is to prevail, Councils of universities should be allowed to complete their tenures as enshrined in the law, and on completion, the government can reappoint or bring its own people, urging autonomy for the nation’s ivory towers.
“If we allow this to be a precedent, then it will take our university system to the past and once more take it away from the global best standards which have been achieved in the past few years. If unchecked, a time will come when politicians and civil servants will take over the entire university system and begin to tell them what to teach, how to teach, and when to teach.
“This is a serious national issue, President Tinubu must show a worthy example in conformity with the extant laws of our great country. The present situation where presidential powers are being used to usurp the powers of the university system should therefore be urgently reversed.
“Let those whose duties it is to supervise our universities, once appointed and assumed office, if nothing is found against them individually, be directed immediately to take charge of the universities and bring the system into normalcy for the period when their tenures are still in place.
“It is an error for the governing councils of federal universities to be dissolved without reference. If the Renewed Hope slogan of this government will give Nigerians real hope, it must be founded on Rule of Law not rule of illegality,” he added.