ASUU Rejects New Governing Councils Approved by Tinubu

Confidence UbaniMay 21, 20241 Mins read265

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has strongly opposed the recent appointments of new Governing Councils by the Federal Government for public tertiary institutions and has insisted on the immediate reinstatement of the disbanded councils.

Speaking at a press briefing at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, the Lagos Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, stated that it is illegal to remove former council members before their terms are completed.

“The former Council members were not given the opportunity to complete their tenure, which is illegal. Unless they had committed offences or breached the law, their abrupt dismissal was unjustified. We demand their reinstatement,” Prof. Odukoya stated.

He expressed concerns about the potential consequences of allowing such arbitrary actions by the government to go unchallenged. According to him, it is a matter of upholding the rule of law and respecting institutional structures.

Additionally, ASUU voiced its opposition to the proliferation of universities across the country, attributing the trend to political agendas rather than genuine educational development. The union called for a comprehensive review of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to curb the problem.

Regarding the ongoing dispute over members’ withheld salaries, the union asserted its readiness to resort to strike action if necessary to defend the rights of lecturers. The union also condemned the unjust dismissal of its members in various universities and vowed to support the affected individuals.

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