The Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) has urged the Federal Government and other concerned stakeholders to immediately reconstitute the Governing Councils of universities in the country that were earlier dissolved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Registrars also called for a reconsideration of the practice of dissolving Councils before the expiration of their statutory tenures, a practice they noted was unhealthy for the smooth running of public universities.
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These were some of the concerns raised, as contained in an 11-point communiqué issued and signed by ARNU Chairman, Mr. Ife Oluwole, and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Yakubu Ayuba, at the end of the Second Registrars’ Workshop and the 75th Business Meeting, held between April 24 and 26, 2024, at the headquarters of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.
Director, Media, and Publicity, NOUN, Ibrahim Sheme, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said the conference deliberated on the theme: “Sustainable Legal Framework as Panacea for Industrial Harmony in the Nigerian University System: Challenges and Remedies.”
“Some universities in Nigeria, especially Federal Universities, have not been able to function optimally for the last year following the dissolution of their Governing Councils.
“ARNU, as a result of this, calls on the Federal Government and other concerned Government/Proprietors to immediately reconstitute the Councils,” part of the communiqué stated.
In its resolutions, ARNU also called on Universities/Government to organize regular retreats for Principal Officers, Council members, and staff upon their appointments to various positions.
The association further stressed that non-interference with the law establishing the universities would go a long way in ensuring harmony in the university system.
“ARNU calls on the Registrars and staff generally to manage their health and not allow the rigors of office to adversely affect their well-being.
“While expressing worries about the recent breach of security in some universities in the country, ARNU appreciates the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling the problem of insecurity in Nigeria,” it said.
The communiqué also stated that the Registrars should engage in continuous capacity-building as custodians of the rules and regulations of the university to keep abreast of the latest developments in the university system while sharpening their negotiation skills.
They called for an equitable reward system in terms of a total compensation package (health, welfare, retirement, end of tenure packages, etc.) that will take care of the Registrars as well as other university stakeholders.
“ARNU appreciates the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling the problem of insecurity in Nigeria; therefore, it calls on the Federal Government to ensure the security of lives and property on our campuses across the country,” the communiqué added.
The second ARNU workshop and 75th Business Meeting were hosted by NOUN in collaboration with ARNU and had attendance from about 93 university registrars from across the country.
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