President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed plans to reinstate the Policy of University Full Autonomy, emphasizing its alignment with the government’s belief that autonomy empowers institutions to progress independently.
During the University of Benin’s 48th convocation ceremony, conveyed by Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engineer Abubakar Momoh, the president stated, “University autonomy will shift performance responsibility directly to individual institutions, alleviating uncertainties.”
Acknowledging concerns over unpaid salaries, Tinubu admitted, “The government is aware of the issues arising from months of overdue payments, particularly among teaching staff unions due to an eight-month industrial action.” To address this, he announced a four-month salary payment for university workers.
Clarifying, Tinubu asserted, “This payment waiver is necessary and does not nullify the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy.”
The government also pledged to enhance university conditions by providing vital infrastructure—lecture halls, student accommodations, administrative facilities, and educational resources—through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), aiming to boost staff and student performance.
Tinubu affirmed, “As a responsible government, we’ll allocate substantial resources to education and develop sustainable policies transcending this administration.”
Highlighting universities’ multifaceted roles in research, technological advancements, skills impartation, and fostering entrepreneurial mindsets, Tinubu expressed commitment to fortify these institutions.
