FG warns varsity councils against conflicts, threatens dissolution

Education minister Adamu Adamu has warned governing council of universities to avoid conflicts capable of undermining the smooth running of their institutions. It came as the governing councils of five federal universities previously dissolved over crisis – the University of Lagos, University of Port Harcourt, University of Ibadan, Maritime University Okerenkoko, and the Obafemi Awolowo […]

Education minister Adamu Adamu has warned governing council of universities to avoid conflicts capable of undermining the smooth running of their institutions.

It came as the governing councils of five federal universities previously dissolved over crisis – the University of Lagos, University of Port Harcourt, University of Ibadan, Maritime University Okerenkoko, and the Obafemi Awolowo University – were inaugurated on Monday.

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He said the Ministry will not hesitate in recommending the dissolution of any governing council that is engulfed in persistent, unwarranted or self-inflicted crises.

The Minister represented by the Permanent Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono, urged the councils to be relevant and effective in the management of their respective institutions, saying, the Governing Councils are rather expected to concentrate on broad policy issues, adopting best practices, monitoring of institutional projects and securing improved funding to improve the facilities and infrastructure that will promote teaching, research and learning in their institutions.

“As you are all aware, unnecessary conflicts can affect the smooth running of any institution. Clash of interests, values, actions or directions often ignite conflicts between Management and Governing Councils of Tertiary Institutions,” he said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed said the inauguration of the Council signifies a new beginnings in the sector.

He said the Commission has been committed to the task of rapid revitalization of university education in Nigeria through a number of carefully spelt out programs and activities.

To the Council members, he said the task before them is enormous and the challenges are legendary.

He however appealed to them to continue to support the collective efforts towards repositioning universities to enable the institutions to drive Nigeria’s inevitable transition to knowledge based economy.