ASUP Rejects FG’s New Governing Councils for Tertiary Institutions
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has voiced strong opposition to the Federal Government’s recently reconstituted governing councils for polytechnics and universities. Naija News reported that President Bola Tinubu approved the appointments of 555 individuals to serve as Pro-chancellors, Chairmen, and members of the Governing Boards for 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
An official notice, signed by Permanent Secretary Didi Esther Walson-Jack, announced the appointment of a chairperson and four members for each institution. This notice also mentioned that the Inaugural/Retreat for the Chairmen and Members of the Governing Councils of Tertiary Institutions is scheduled for May 30th and 31st, 2024.
In response, ASUP President Shammah Kpanja issued a statement expressing the union’s dissatisfaction with the new appointments. He criticized the selection of individuals lacking a proper understanding of the polytechnic system, highlighting a failure to appoint former Executive Secretaries of regulatory bodies for polytechnics, unlike in other subsectors.
ASUP has called for a revision of the polytechnic appointees list before the inauguration, insisting that individuals with substantial knowledge and experience in the polytechnic sector should be included. This revision, they argue, is crucial to prevent governance issues that could destabilize the sector.
The statement read, “After carefully reviewing the list of new members, we express our dissatisfaction and disappointment with the composition for the polytechnics. Our union has consistently advocated for the appointment of individuals familiar with the workings of the sector, such as former Rectors, Principal Officers, and experienced staff from regulatory bodies. The current list fails to include any individuals from these categories, which is a significant disservice to the polytechnics and contrasts sharply with the appointments in other tertiary education subsectors.
“This oversight perpetuates the longstanding discrimination against polytechnics and risks pushing the sector into crisis. The current appointees lack the expertise needed to advance the polytechnics, effectively turning them into venues for non-specialists.”
ASUP’s call for a revised list underscores the need for governance that truly understands and can effectively manage the unique challenges faced by Nigeria’s polytechnic
institutions.
