President Bola Tinubu has ordered a total and comprehensive review of the recently announced governing boards of tertiary institutions.
A statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Thursday, said that the review will be effected before the inauguration and retreat being planned for the nominees.
The statement also announced that the inauguration and retreat for the nominees will take place on May 31.
Recall that following threats by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embark on strike over the alleged delays in constituting governing councils, the Federal Ministry of Education had recently released names of nominees for chairmen, Pro-Chancellors, and members of the boards and councils of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
However, ASUU had stated that it was not accepting the newly constituted council, urging for the return of the disbanded council.
The Union alleged that the tenure of the former councils had not elapsed before they were removed from office adding that the action of the government was illegal.
There were also cries from the public that the nominations did not reflect the Federal Character principle.
Onanuga in the statement concurred that the reaction from the public showed that the nomination did not reflect the federal character of the country as some states got just one nomination while some others got many.
He further stated that the President acknowledged the feedback across the country and is committed to ensuring strict compliance with the principle of Federal Character as entrenched in the Constitution.
“The review will also take into consideration national spread and ensure every part of the country is adequately represented,” he said.