The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed serious concern over what it described as weak governance and alleged poor handling of funds in some Nigerian universities.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during the unveiling of the 2025 agreement between the union and the Federal Government, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Pinuwa, warned that these challenges were threatening accountability, institutional stability and academic excellence in the university system.
Pinuwa said ineffective governance frameworks in some institutions had continued to hinder the proper management and utilisation of available resources. He noted that while university autonomy is recognised by law, it is yet to be fully implemented in practice, leaving room for undue external influence in university administration.
According to him, frequent dissolution of governing councils and interference in the selection of vice-chancellors have become recurring issues, weakening merit-based processes and destabilising universities. He explained that such actions often spark disputes, court cases and divisions among staff, all of which disrupt academic programmes and effective leadership.
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The ASUU president also raised the alarm over the increasing reliance on prolonged acting vice-chancellors in some institutions, stressing the need for closer oversight of governing councils and principal officers to protect the integrity of universities.
On research and innovation, Pinuwa emphasised that adequate funding was essential for Nigerian universities to remain relevant and competitive globally. He noted that research funding featured prominently in the renegotiated 2025 agreement with the Federal Government.
He recalled that universities had suffered years of inadequate research support and welcomed the inclusion of research and development funding in the new agreement. Pinuwa disclosed that the Federal Government had agreed to forward the National Research Council Bill to the National Assembly.
The proposed legislation, he said, would provide a dedicated funding source for research, innovation and development, equivalent to at least one per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. He expressed optimism that lawmakers would fast-track the passage of the bill in the interest of national development.
