Wale Jagun
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) chapter, has joined its national body in expressing serious concern over the recent illegal dissolution of Governing Councils in both federal and state universities.
The Union members said that the federal government’s action is a direct threat to the autonomy of the institutions.
Comrade Tayo Okulaja, branch Chairman, ASUU LASUSTECH, who addressed selected reporters at the institution’s Ikorodu campus, said that the action is illegal and must be reversed.
“This action is seen as a direct threat to the autonomy and proper governance of our higher education institutions. Governing councils are fundamental to the effective administration of universities, providing oversight strategic direction and accountability”, he said.
“The unilateral and illegal dissolution of these councils undermine the stability and academic integrity of our universities, disrupting their ability to operate smoothly and fulfil their educational mission.
“ASUU strongly condemns this practice and calls for the immediate reinstatement of the dissolution councils. Furthermore, we demand that any future decision regarding the status of governing councils be made transparently, legally, and with full consultation with all relevant stakeholders”, he added.
Explaining further at the briefing where other officers and members of the union were also present, Okulaja said:
“Those Governing Councils were illegally dissolved. Mind you, Governing Councils are not just comprise of the government nominees alone, there are also internal members of the councils who are elected and constitutional members, what happens to those members?”, he asked.
“Somebody cannot dissolve the governing councils by fiat, it means that you are eroding the same autonomy that we are clamouring for by some people somewhere.
“Let us assume that another government comes in tomorrow in Lagos State and because the government does not like the faces of the Governing Council members, they would ask them to go”.
