By Moh Bello Habib, Zaria
The Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Branch of Academic Staff Union of Universities has called on the Minister of Education to shun Usurpation of Universities Governing Councils by giving approvals to Vice On matters that are solely on the Councils
The Union made its stand know in a 2 page statement by Branch Chairman, Professor Haruna Jibril issued at press conference held union Secretariat recently.
Statement read in part "The Ahmadu Bello University branch of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ABU)notes with apprehension recent events bordering on the usurpation of powers of University Governing Councils by the Minister of Education with active collaboration of Vice Chancellors. This illigality undermines the sacred University autonomy, being a product of persistent and noble struggle for a better Nigerian University System. The autonomy is deeply embedded in extant laws among which is section 2 AAA of the Universities (miscellaneous provisions) (Amended) Act, 2003. Specific ways adopted the Vice Chancellors to usurp the powers of University Councils include but are not limited to the creation of the office of a Deputy Vice Chancellor (Third Deputy Vice Chancellor in the case of Ahmadu Bello University).
Confront with a recent incident here at the Ahmadu Bello University, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) proactively engaged the University administration, demanding the immediate stoppage of the creation of a third Deputy Vice Chancellor that has been scheduled to hold during the recently held 534th (Regular) meeting of the Senate. ASUU-ABU reports that, following a letter of Protest from ASUU to Vice Chancellor, the said election was to hold.In the letter, we clearly stated our position to the effect that the creation of the office of a third Deputy Vice Chancellor in the absence of a Governing Council violates the laws governing affairs of Ahmadu Bello University. We also argued that the Universities (miscellaneous provisions)Act, 1993 and the universities (miscellaneous provisions) (Amended)Act, 2003 confer the power to create the office of a Deputy Vice Chancellor solely on the Council of d University.
"Furthermore, Section 2 AAA of the Universities (miscellaneous provisions) (Amended) Act, 2003 provides that 'the powers of Council, shall be exercised, as in the law and Statutes of each University and to that extent, establishment circulars that are inconsistent with the laws shall not apply to the universities' by this section, approvals from the Minister of Education, especially on matters that do not threaten the ordinary cause of business of the University, but which conflict with extant laws have no binding face.
"We at the Ahmadu Bello University branch of ASUU hold strongly that the sad developments that are currently being witnessed in the Universities are exacerbated by the failure of government to immediately reconstitute Councils as Section 2 A of the Universities (Miscellaneous provisions) (Amended) Act, 2003 demands. Mindful of it's far reaching positive impact, ASUU holds university autonomy in high regard and has, therefore, consistently clamoured for its actualization."
End.
