The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed that most public tertiary institutions in the country are being run illegally due to the absence of governing councils.
ASUU President, Osodeke, expressed this concern during a workshop organized by TETFund in Abuja on Tuesday.
Osodeke criticised the decision to dissolve the governing councils of all Federal Universities, leaving the institutions to be run solely by vice chancellors.
He questioned the lack of oversight and governance, stating, “How can Vice Chancellors be allowed to run the universities freely without governing councils for almost a year? This is a major setback toward the growth and development of university education in Nigeria.”
He also accused university heads of not involving other stakeholders in the utilisation of funds allocated by TETFund. He stressed the need for proper assessment and accountability, stating, “When you are allocating money to these universities, we agreed that there will be stakeholders meeting on how the money will be utilised.”
He called for sanctions against universities that fail to utilize their allocations and involve stakeholders in decision-making processes, stressing that “the fund belongs to the Nigerian people.”
The Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Arc. Sonny Echono, highlighted the importance of the workshop in addressing the needs of students and improving teaching and learning across the tertiary education sub-sector.
One of the key areas discussed during the workshop was the establishment of Career Services Centers in tertiary institutions, aimed at providing students with information on job trends, opportunities, and necessary skills.
Echono emphasised the significance of these centers, stating, “Career services centers have helped students in advanced nations to make informed decisions regarding their career paths.”
