FG Postpones Inauguration Of Varsities Governing Councils

The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the postponement of the inauguration and retreat for pro-chancellors, chairmen and members of Governing councils of federal tertiary institutions, earlier scheduled for Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31, 2024.

This was contained in a statement released on Sunday, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press, Folasade Biriowo.

Biriowo said the postponement was to ensure a comprehensive review of the list as directed by the Presidency.

“This is as a result of the presidential directive, as conveyed by the State House press release dated May 23, 2024, for a comprehensive review of the membership of the governing councils of federal tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

We regret any inconveniences this may cause.

“Further updates will be communicated in due course,” the statement by Biriowo read.

President Bola Tinubu, last week, mandated a comprehensive review of the recently announced governing boards for Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

This directive precedes the planned inauguration and retreat for the nominees.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu Directs Comprehensive Review of Governing Boards of Tertiary Institutions.’

Onanuga highlighted that the nominations failed to reflect the federal character of the country, with discrepancies such as some states receiving only one nomination while others had multiple appointees.

Previously, Tinubu had sanctioned the appointment of 555 individuals to serve as Pro-Chancellors/Chairmen and members of the Governing Boards for 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, based on a list compiled by the Ministry of Education.

The directive for a review followed significant public backlash, including protests from the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics.