By Temi Ohakwe, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off strike and return to classrooms.
The President said the strike has gone on, for far too long and caused enough devastation in the lives of students and the universities alike.
He also alled for caution among the heads of governing councils of Nigerian universities against the mismanagement of process of appointing vice chancellors, saying they would be held responsible for the outcome of the process.
The Nigerian leader made the calls at the 2020 convocation and 72nd foundation day celebration of the University of Ibadan .
He said the government is worried about the avalanche of petitions, many bordering on serious allegations of bribery and corruption as well as disrespect for due process, in the course of selecting new vice-chancellors in some federal universities.
Represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, President Buhari, who is the Visitor to the university, further warned that government will not hesitate to dissolve or suspend all erring governing councils or university managements found to have fallen short of the standard expected of them.
He said government has set in motion several mechanisms to monitor the selection process of VCs with a view to taking appropriate measures to ensure that the processes are conducted in open, fair and transparent manner and that all violators are properly sanctioned.
“Pro-Chancellors, in their dual role as chairpersons of governing councils and chairpersons of the five person selection committee for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, must be prepared to bear full responsibility for the management or mismanagement of the process. It is our hope the University of Ibadan, as Nigeria’s premier university, will live up to its billing in this respect.
While stating that government has strengthened institutions such the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC, in the fight against corruption, the president said it is not useful to talk of adequate funding of education if universities are mired in crisis, confusion, fraud and lack of institutional vision.
“I am glad to say that these organisations are working relentlessly to tackle corruption in all its ramifications and to promote the well-being of this nation. It is our collective responsibility to work together and stamp out corruption from our society. Government is determined to continue to fight corruption at all levels, including in our tertiary institutions.
Buhari assured the university community that the federal government will continue to meet its obligations to universities and the education sector, while noting that government is not unmindful of the special role of the nation’s universities in the upliftment of the socio-economic wellbeing of citizens.
“I wish to assure all stakeholders, in the education sector, that the Federal Government will continue to meet its obligations and agreements with all unions.
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