- .Wants negotiations with ASUU, other unions revisited
The Committee of Pro-Chancellors (CPC) of Federal Universities has hailed President Bola Tinubu on his affirmation of what they described as the sanctity of university autonomy.
The committee said Tinubu has created an enabling environment for teaching, learning, and research.
The pro-chancellors also praised Tinubu for agreeing to increase funding of education, through the new Students Loan Act, which was signed into Law on June 11, to create broad access for more qualified Nigerians to benefit from tertiary education.
The committee pledged to work with the new administration to discuss with the Federal Government to fine-tune the novel initiative.
The Pro- chancellors said these in a communique issued by its Secretary General, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, at the end of its 99th regular meeting of the committee held in Abuja yesterday.
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The regular meeting of the committee brought together Pro-Chancellors from 50 federal universities.
The committee urged the Federal Government to sustain its vision for the tertiary education sub-sector and ensure that existing laws in the direction are upheld firmly.
They called on the President as the visitor to all federal universities to work out an early administrative position solution to the pending questions on outstanding obligations to university staff from Year 2022.
The CPC also called on Tinubu to revisit the pending report of the federal government negotiation committee which the Pro- chancellors said it set up to address various issues raised by university unions.
According to the communique, the pro-chancellors said they constituted two ad hoc committees to deal with some thematic issues such as alternative funding of universities and a committee on university autonomy.
The CPC unanimously selected Ambassador Dr.Godknows Igali, the Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology to serve as Alternate Chairman to its substantive Chairman, Bashir Dalhatu.
The Committee however stated that it looked forward to working closely with the administration of Tinubu to realise its vision for the tertiary education sub-sector.
The communique reads in part: ”The meeting discussed various issues pertaining to the state of affairs and wellbeing of the Nigerian university system and strategies for sustaining the proper conduct of academic activities in Nigerian universities.
“Members of the CPC congratulate President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on their inauguration as President and Vice President, respectively. CPC looks forward to working closely with the administration to realise its vision for the tertiary education sub-sector.
“The Pro-Chancellors salute the affirmation of Mr. President to uphold the sanctity of university autonomy and create the right and enabling environment for teaching, learning and research.
”CPC looks forward to working closely with the government to sustain this vision and ensure that the existing laws in this direction are firmly upheld.”