The federal government has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to reconsider its recent strike threat, assuring that efforts are being made to address their concerns. ASUU had issued a two-week ultimatum to reconstitute the governing councils of public universities.
Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, addressed journalists in Abuja, stating that the government is working to reconstitute the governing councils. A panel has been established by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, to finalize the list, and the councils will be inaugurated once completed.
Maiyaki acknowledged ASUU’s concerns about the welfare of their members and university activities but appealed for patience, emphasizing the complexity of reconstituting councils for 61 universities. He highlighted the government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education, citing the need for more universities to meet the growing demand.
The NUC boss also outlined initiatives to boost the nation’s university system, including curriculum development, quality assurance, research, infrastructure development, and internationalization. He mentioned the review of university curricula to reflect Nigeria’s aspirations for a knowledge economy and the implementation of new curricula for the 2023/2024 academic session.
Additionally, Maiyaki discussed the development of guidelines for Open and Distance Learning to ensure quality in university education and keep pace with global best practices. The government’s efforts aim to address ASUU’s concerns and promote a stable academic environ
