Weak Governance, Misuse Of Funds Undermining Universities – ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed concern over alleged fund mismanagement and structural governance lapses in some universities across Nigeria.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Pinuwa, raised the alarm on Wednesday in Abuja during the unveiling of the 2025 Agreement between the Federal Government and the union.

Pinuwa cautioned that the situation posed a serious threat to accountability and academic excellence within the university system.

He explained that weak governance frameworks in some institutions have continued to hinder the proper utilisation of available resources.

The ASUU president noted that while university autonomy is acknowledged in principle and partly enshrined in law, its implementation remained ineffective, resulting in frequent external interference in university administration.

According to him, the arbitrary dissolution of Governing Councils and undue interference in the appointment of vice-chancellors have become recurring issues, weakening merit-based processes and destabilising institutions.

Pinuwa added that such interventions often trigger disputes, court cases and staff division, ultimately disrupting academic activities and efficient management.

He further raised concerns over what he described as the growing trend of prolonged acting vice-chancellorship in universities, stressing the need for closer oversight of governing councils and principal officers to preserve institutional integrity.

Speaking on research funding, the ASUU president said adequate investment was critical to the relevance and global competitiveness of Nigerian universities, noting that research and development funding is a key component of the 2025 renegotiated agreement.

“Nigerian universities have faced paucity of research funding for a very long time, and I’m glad that research and development funding is a component of the 2025 ASUU-FG re-negotiated agreement.

“It was agreed that the National Research Council Bill shall be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.

“The proposed bill shall provide for at least one per cent equivalent of GDP as a source of funding for research, innovation and development.

“It is my belief that, as stakeholders, members of the National Assembly will expedite action in the passage of the bill,” he said.

Pinuwa also faulted promotion practices in some newly established federal universities of education, alleging that due process and established academic standards for professorial appointments were being compromised.

He warned that the upgrade of colleges of education to university status should not come at the expense of academic standards.

As a result, the ASUU president urged vice-chancellors of the affected institutions to immediately review such promotions in order to safeguard the credibility and integrity of the university system. NAN