By Egena Sunday Ode
President Bola Tinubu has directed a total and comprehensive review of the recently announced governing boards of tertiary institutions in Nigeria before the inauguration and retreat being planned for the nominees.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
The Federal Ministry of Education recently released names of nominees for chairmen, Pro-Chancellors, and members of the boards and councils of universities, Polytechnics, and colleges of education. It also announced that the inauguration and retreat for the nominees will take place on 31 May.
Onanuga said in the statement, however, that it had been widely observed that the distribution of the nominations across states and regions violated the federal character principle as enshrined in the constitution.
Acting on this feedback, according to the statement, President Tinubu had ordered a review of the nominations in order to align with the principle as enshrined in the statutes by accommodating all states and regions in equal proportion.
“However, public reactions showed that the nominations did not reflect the federal character of the country as some states got just one nomination, while some others got many.
“In directing a complete review of the list of members, President Tinubu acknowledges the feedback across the country.
“President Tinubu is committed to ensuring strict compliance with the principle of federal character as entrenched in the constitution.
“The review will also take into consideration national spread and ensure every part of the country is adequately represented,” the statement further read.
