The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities (COPSUN) has appealed to the Federal Government to act swiftly to prevent another shutdown of Nigeria’s universities, warning that the system is still recovering from previous industrial crises.
In a communiqué issued after its 69th meeting in Abuja on Sunday, September 14, signed by Acting Chairman Prof. Ayodeji Omole, the body cautioned that a fresh strike would further undermine academic stability and disrupt ongoing reforms.
“The nation cannot afford another round of industrial action in the university system as the institutions are yet to fully recover from the disruptions of the last crisis,” the communiqué read.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) recently held nationwide demonstrations to demand implementation of the renegotiated 2009 FG–ASUU agreement, improved salaries and working conditions, greater institutional autonomy, better funding, and amendments to laws guiding the National Universities Commission (NUC).
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To avert conflict, the pro-chancellors urged the Federal Government to:
Review and increase budgetary allocations to education yearly, and include COPSUN representatives in negotiations with university-based unions to ensure smoother resolution of disputes.
They also advised governing councils to respect the legal framework guiding university administration to avoid unnecessary tensions with vice-chancellors and senior management.
Meanwhile, the committee applauded the government for halting the unchecked establishment of new universities, describing the policy as a step toward consolidating and strengthening existing institutions.
