FG mulls return to full autonomy for varsities
…Granting autonomy to varsities fosters ownership, pride among faculty as FG mulls — Expert
…As Osun VC calls for review of university autonomy
By Sodiq Adelakun
The reintroduction of the Policy of University Full Autonomy by the Federal Government has been met with positive reactions from communication expert, Professor Akeem Folayan.
He believed that granting autonomy to universities can promote a sense of ownership and pride among faculty, staff, and students.
Recall that president Bola Tinubu also expressed his support for this decision, stating that university autonomy allows institutions to develop at their own pace.
Speaking through the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engineer Abubakar Momoh, Tinubu expressed confidence in the proposed strategy, believing that it will transfer the responsibility of performance directly to the individual institutions.
However, Tinubu acknowledged the concerns of university employees regarding unpaid salaries, particularly those of the teaching staff unions. To alleviate the situation, a four-month salary payment for all university workers was announced, although Tinubu clarified that this does not negate the government’s “No Work, No Pay” policy.
Meanwhile, reacting to the issue, Professor Folayan said, “I believe that the reintroduction of the Policy of University Full Autonomy is a positive step towards promoting progress and development in our universities.
“Allowing institutions to have more control over their own affairs will enable them to make decisions that are in their best interest and align with their unique needs and goals.
“By transferring the responsibility of performance directly to the individual institutions, this policy will encourage universities to be more accountable and efficient in their operations.
“It will also provide them with the flexibility to innovate and adapt to changing circumstances, which is crucial in today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape.
“Furthermore, university autonomy can foster a sense of ownership and pride among faculty, staff, and students, as they will have a greater say in shaping the direction and priorities of their institution.
“This can lead to increased motivation, productivity, and overall excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement.
“However, it is important to ensure that this autonomy is accompanied by adequate support and resources from the government. Universities must have the necessary funding, infrastructure, and capacity-building programs to effectively exercise their autonomy and achieve their goals.
“Additionally, mechanisms for quality assurance and accountability should be put in place to maintain standards and prevent any potential abuses of autonomy.
“I believe that the reintroduction of university autonomy is a positive move that can contribute to the growth and development of our higher education sector. It is essential that this policy is implemented in a thoughtful and strategic manner, with the active involvement of all stakeholders, to ensure its success.”
The Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Clement Adeboye, has called for a review of the autonomy granted to universities in Nigeria.
He believed that the current system is confusing and inefficient, as universities with autonomy still have to seek financial assistance from the government in Abuja.
Professor Adeboye suggested that the law regarding autonomy should be reviewed to allow university councils to take control, or the government should scrap autonomy and take over funding of education completely.
His words: “Some federal universities have been struggling to get accredited of courses we are running, that shows that we are committed to excellence. We take exception to the statement made by Osodeke referring to Uniosun as a quack school.
“This university has a profile of having done what other universities have not done in 14 years of its existence. This University has 481 full time academic staff, out of them 387 of them are PhD holders.”
