By Mariam Abeeb
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has warned against political interference in the appointment of vice-chancellors, insisting that only a transparent and merit-based selection process can guarantee effective governance and academic excellence in Nigeria’s federal universities.
Echono made the call on Thursday while presenting research findings at a public lecture held at the University of Abuja, themed “Leadership Selection Process and Governance of Federal Universities in Nigeria (1993–2024).”
The lecture was organised by the Abuja Leadership and Governance Centre.
Presenting the findings of the study, Echono said universities that adopt transparent, accountable and inclusive leadership selection processes consistently record stronger governance outcomes, greater institutional stability and improved academic performance.
“The research clearly demonstrates that transparent and inclusive leadership selection processes are critical to effective governance in our federal universities,” he said.
“Institutions that prioritise accountability and stakeholder engagement consistently record better governance outcomes and stronger institutional stability.”
According to him, leaders who emerge through credible processes are more likely to promote research, strengthen collaboration among scholars and create an enabling environment for teaching and learning.
The TETFund boss identified political interference, nepotism and corruption as major obstacles to good governance in Nigerian universities, warning that appointments driven by considerations other than merit weaken institutions and undermine their core mandates.
“Political interference, nepotism and corruption remain among the greatest threats to good governance in our universities,” Echono said.
“When leadership appointments are influenced by factors other than merit and competence, the entire institution suffers.”
He stressed that universities must be protected from undue external influence if they are to produce quality graduates, conduct impactful research and contribute meaningfully to national development.
To address the challenges, Echono recommended the development and enforcement of clear, standardised guidelines for leadership appointments across federal universities.
He also advocated publicly accessible selection procedures, inclusive search committees involving faculty members, students, alumni and industry stakeholders, as well as the deployment of technology-driven systems to enhance transparency and accountability.
According to him, centralised online application platforms, electronic voting systems, virtual town hall meetings and digital archiving would strengthen the integrity of leadership selection processes.
The TETFund Executive Secretary further called for regular independent audits of appointment processes and the establishment of credible feedback mechanisms through which stakeholders can report grievances and concerns.
“Accountability must remain at the heart of university governance. Regular audits and credible feedback mechanisms are essential safeguards against abuse, manipulation and violations of established procedures,” he said.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, described the lecture series as a platform for advancing intellectual discourse on leadership and governance in higher education.
While commending Echono’s contributions to public service, Fawehinmi expressed concern over growing attempts to politicise vice-chancellor appointments in some universities.
He warned that the trend could undermine institutional reforms and merit-based governance within the university system.
Also speaking, the Director of the Abuja Leadership Centre, Prof. Abdulhamid Ozohu-Suleiman, said the centre was established with TETFund support to promote leadership excellence and strengthen governance culture in the country.
The event featured a panel dialogue where scholars and governance experts examined challenges affecting leadership selection in Nigerian universities and proposed reforms aimed at safeguarding institutional autonomy and academic standards.
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