JUST IN: Tinubu names members of the governing boards of 111 universities

The appointments of at least 555 individuals to the positions of Pro-chancellor/Chairman and members of the Governing Boards of 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education have been authorized by President Bola Tinubu.

This came after Tinubu gave his approval to a list of candidates chosen by the Ministry of Education.

PUNCH Online saw an advertisement from the Ministry of Education announcing the appointment of four members and a chairperson to each of the institutions.

Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, signed it.

“The inauguration and retreat for the Governing Councils will take place on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31, 2024, at the National Universities Commission, 26 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Both events will commence at 9:00am daily,” said Walson-Jack.

The Presidency said the list came from the Ministry of Education when asked for proof.

“This is from the Federal Ministry of Education…they make the nominations and forward them to the President to sign. But they are at liberty to release it from their end,” the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, told our correspondent on Saturday.

The appointments follow the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ threat to go on strike just a few days earlier, which might have disrupted the academic schedule and further hurt the nation’s higher education system.

The union criticized the federal government’s inability to name governing councils for federal colleges on Tuesday.

The union also criticized the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government for what it perceived to be a callous disregard for issues pertaining to academics at federal universities.

During a meeting at the University of Abuja, the academic community also criticized the university system’s 25% pay increase for other academics and 35% wage increase for professors.