Abati: I thought I could rattle Tinubu during media chat — but he knows what he’s doing

By Gift Habib

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, mandated a comprehensive review of the recently announced governing boards for Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

This directive precedes the planned inauguration and retreat for the nominees.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu Directs Comprehensive Review of Governing Boards of Tertiary Institutions.’

Onanuga highlighted that the nominations failed to reflect the federal character of the country, with discrepancies such as some states receiving only one nomination while others had multiple appointees.

“The nomination did not reflect the federal character of the country as some states got just one nomination, while some others got many,” he said.

Previously, Tinubu had sanctioned the appointment of 555 individuals to serve as Pro-Chancellors/Chairmen and members of the Governing Boards for 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, based on a list compiled by the Ministry of Education.

The directive for a review followed significant public backlash, including protests from the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics.

The President “in directing a complete review of the list of the members of the governing councils, acknowledges the feedback across the country.

“President Tinubu 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,” Onanuga noted.

The inauguration and retreat for the nominees are scheduled for May 31, 2024.

Among the appointees is a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, named as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. Members are Mary Yisa, R. O. Kazeem, Prof. Usman Musa and Dr. Anthony Usoro.

Wole Olanipekun. (SAN), has been appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of the University of Lagos, with members including Prof. S.E. Ogbeide, Rufai Chanchangi, Mrs. Glory Ekpo-Oho, and Patricia Yakubu, among others.