• Home
  • Agric
  • Sci & Tech
  • Health
  • Environment
  • Hausa News
  • More
    • Business/Banking & Finance
    • Politics/Elections
    • Entertainments & Sports
    • International
    • Investigation
    • Law & Human Rights
    • Africa
    • ACCOUNTABILITY/CORRUPTION
    • Hassan Gimba
    • Column
    • Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim
    • Prof. M.K. Othman
    • Defense/Security
    • Education
    • Energy/Electricity
    • Entertainment/Arts & Sports
    • Society and Lifestyle
    • Food & Agriculture
    • Health & Healthy Living
    • International News
    • Interviews
    • Investigation/Fact-Check
    • Judiciary/Legislature/Law & Human Rights
    • Oil & Gas/Mineral Resources
    • Press Freedom/Media/PR/Journalism
    • General News
    • Presidency
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Board Of Advisory
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ethics Policy
    • Teamwork And Collaboration Policy
    • Fact-Checking Policy
    • Advertising
  • Wire News
  • The Stories
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • ABU gets ₦4bn special funding to expand medical training
  • Forecast report: Global shipping enters “new regulatory era,” DNV warns
  • Dangote Refinery: PENGASSAN, NNPC, others evade service of court order to halt strike
  • Stop importing solutions, – APWEN advises Nigerian govt
  • Gombe takes measures to avert farmers-herders clashes ahead of harvest
  • Dangote Refinery, PENGASSAN meet in NSA’s office behind closed doors
  • ECOWAS supports Plateau children, farmers with $82m
  • Pregnant woman shot in Niger mining clash
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
AsheNewsAsheNews
  • Home
  • Agric

    Gombe takes measures to avert farmers-herders clashes ahead of harvest

    September 30, 2025

    ECOWAS supports Plateau children, farmers with $82m

    September 30, 2025

    Argus Fertilizer Africa Awards to honour trailblazers in Agriculture

    September 30, 2025

    Farming with equality: How AKILIMO is helping women grow, By Thompson Ogunsanmi

    September 29, 2025

    Science meets strategy: Communicating research for ROI, By Dr Aremu Fakunle

    September 29, 2025
  • Sci & Tech

    Stop importing solutions, – APWEN advises Nigerian govt

    September 30, 2025

    FG plans nationwide broadband expansion, says Salis

    September 30, 2025

    Video game giant EA to be taken private in $55bn sale

    September 29, 2025

    KEBRAM empowers 500 Katsina youth with python and cybersecurity skills

    September 29, 2025

    Commercializing research: Pathways and challenges for Nigeria and emerging economies, By Dr. Aremu Fakunle

    September 27, 2025
  • Health

    ABU gets ₦4bn special funding to expand medical training

    September 30, 2025

    Cardiologist urges stronger primary care to fight heart disease

    September 30, 2025

    PCN battles unsafe medicines, shuts illegal shops

    September 29, 2025

    NDLEA, RichyGold use football to tackle youth drug abuse

    September 29, 2025

    Kano hospitals hail NHIA reforms for saving lives, costs

    September 29, 2025
  • Environment

    Forecast report: Global shipping enters “new regulatory era,” DNV warns

    September 30, 2025

    Pregnant woman shot in Niger mining clash

    September 30, 2025

    Nigeria supports sanitation agenda at AMCOW summit

    September 30, 2025

    Jigawa govt approves N575m dyke project to mitigate flooding

    September 30, 2025

    NiMet warns of nationwide thunderstorms, flood risk in three states

    September 30, 2025
  • Hausa News

    Anti-quackery task force seals 4 fake hospitals in Rivers

    August 29, 2025

    [BIDIYO] Yadda na lashe gasa ta duniya a fannin Ingilishi – Rukayya ‘yar shekara 17

    August 6, 2025

    A Saka Baki, A Sasanta Saɓani Tsakanin ‘Yanjarida Da Liman, Daga Muhammad Sajo

    May 21, 2025

    Dan majalisa ya raba kayan miliyoyi a Funtuwa da Dandume

    March 18, 2025

    [VIDIYO] Fassarar mafalki akan aikin Hajji

    January 6, 2025
  • More
    1. Business/Banking & Finance
    2. Politics/Elections
    3. Entertainments & Sports
    4. International
    5. Investigation
    6. Law & Human Rights
    7. Africa
    8. ACCOUNTABILITY/CORRUPTION
    9. Hassan Gimba
    10. Column
    11. Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim
    12. Prof. M.K. Othman
    13. Defense/Security
    14. Education
    15. Energy/Electricity
    16. Entertainment/Arts & Sports
    17. Society and Lifestyle
    18. Food & Agriculture
    19. Health & Healthy Living
    20. International News
    21. Interviews
    22. Investigation/Fact-Check
    23. Judiciary/Legislature/Law & Human Rights
    24. Oil & Gas/Mineral Resources
    25. Press Freedom/Media/PR/Journalism
    26. General News
    27. Presidency
    Featured
    Recent

    ABU gets ₦4bn special funding to expand medical training

    September 30, 2025

    Forecast report: Global shipping enters “new regulatory era,” DNV warns

    September 30, 2025

    Dangote Refinery: PENGASSAN, NNPC, others evade service of court order to halt strike

    September 30, 2025
  • About Us
    1. Contact Us
    2. Board Of Advisory
    3. Privacy Policy
    4. Ethics Policy
    5. Teamwork And Collaboration Policy
    6. Fact-Checking Policy
    7. Advertising
    Featured
    Recent

    ABU gets ₦4bn special funding to expand medical training

    September 30, 2025

    Forecast report: Global shipping enters “new regulatory era,” DNV warns

    September 30, 2025

    Dangote Refinery: PENGASSAN, NNPC, others evade service of court order to halt strike

    September 30, 2025
  • Wire News
  • The Stories
AsheNewsAsheNews
Home»Column»Whither the University System in Nigeria? By Prof. MK Othman
Column

Whither the University System in Nigeria? By Prof. MK Othman

Abdallah el-KurebeBy Abdallah el-KurebeMay 2, 2021No Comments5 Mins Read
Prof MK Othman
Prof MK Othman
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

The University system consists of four statutory organs, which makes it a kind of government within a government. It has a legal power to make laws (Statute) for direct Gazette without passing through the National Assembly provided such laws are not in conflicts with constitutional provisions or extant Laws. The organs of the university are a council, senate, congregation, and convocation; each having distinct power and functions designed to complement each other and optimize teamwork. This is why the university system is managed using a committee system.

The University council is the highest decision and policymaking body with a quasi-legislative function, including the power to make law (statutes). Council is the employer of all categories of university employees. The power of the Council includes governing, manage, regulate the finances, accounts, investment, property, business, and all affairs whatsoever of the university. As stated in the 2007 Universities Act, 2003 and 2007 “The Governing Council of the university shall be free in the discharge of its functions and exercise of its responsibilities for the good management, growth, and development of the university”. Council has two classifications of membership; ex-officio and non-ex-officio members; and external and internal members with the Chairman being an external member. Ex-officio members are council members by their offices. These are the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, and one person from the Federal Ministry of Education. Internal members are four members from the senate and two members from the congregation. External members of the Council consist of the Pro-Chancellor/Council Chairman, convocation representative and the four other members representing a variety of interests appointed by the National Council of Ministers. Because of its paramount importance, council membership is strictly guided by university law “ person to be appointed to the council shall be of proven integrity, knowledgeable and familiar with affairs and tradition of the university”. Although no academic qualification is ascribed to the credentials of nominees to the council membership, however, to be knowledgeable and familiar with the affairs and tradition of the University, the nominee must at least have gone through the University system. This means a member of the Governing Council should be at least a graduate from any recognized University. With this criterion, the university council has no place riprap and persons of questionable character. Legally, the university council cannot be dissolved except it is found incompetent and corrupt.

Senate is the second organ of the university system, the highest decision and policymaking body of the university on academic matters covering all educational programs, admission, award of degrees, diplomas, and certificates to deserving undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as individuals who merit fellows or honorary degrees or diplomas. It supervises and regulates the implementation of all the academic programs of the university, which cover teaching and research. Senate exercises other functions following the Laws and Statutes of the university. Membership of the Senate comprises all Heads of Academic Departments, Deans, Directors, Principal officers of the University, all professors, congregation representatives and co-opted members as stipulated in the university laws and statutes. Senate is normally a large gathering of eggheads who brilliantly and articulately discuss issues from different points of view that sometimes become stormy and arriving at decision only by voting. Generally, strong reason carries the day devoid of emotion.

The last two university’ organs are congregation and convocation. The congregation is the body through which representation of university staff other than members of the senate is secured on the council and senate. The primary function of the congregation is to provide a forum for the discussion of matters affecting the academic wellbeing of the University and to make recommendations, from time to time, to the Council or the Senate on such matters as it thinks fit. Membership of congregation consists of the officers of the University, all members of the academic staff, and all members of the administrative staff holding degrees conferred by recognized universities or other qualifications recognized by the Senate as equivalent to degrees for this Statute. Convocation is an organ of the university, which provides a representation of one member on the council. Membership includes graduates of the university, chancellor, pro-chancellor/chairman of the council, and all the academic staff. Chancellor is the chairman of the convocation. Other important personalities to university are chancellor and visitor whose roles and functions are stated in the university law.

The legal power vested on the council makes the university to be relatively autonomous devoid of bureaucracy associated with normal government establishments like ministries and agencies. So, government officers and other personalities questioning the autonomous power of the university are either ignorant of the law or are just being mischief.

The elaborate, vibrant and composite structure of the university was designed to achieve three cardinal objectives of teaching, research, and community service.

With the multifactorial structure of the university, it is absolutely necessary to acquire an autonomous power against external interference to effectively perform the three functions of manpower development, research for development, and community service. The university law has graciously granted the needed autonomy for the university in Nigeria to be in line with international standards.  The university system constitutes the critical ingredients for national development. The nation’s economic and developmental vibrancy depends on the intellectual capacity of its citizens particularly the leadership.

This intellectual capacity of a nation is acquired as a product of a university system. When the system is rotten, it will produce engineers who do not know engineering, lawyers who do not know the law, accountants who do not know accounting, and other professionals who know next to nothing of the profession they claim to profess. Somehow, the nation is cursed to employ these unbaked professionals to manage its affairs. How has the university system in Nigeria been faring? What kind of graduates the system is producing? (To be concluded next week).

Othman is a professor of soil and water engineering at NAERLS, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

 

Education NAERLS Prof. MK Othman University system
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Abdallah el-Kurebe
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Related Posts

Science meets strategy: Communicating research for ROI, By Dr Aremu Fakunle

September 29, 2025

Readers’ comments on GMOs, seed system, and food security, By Prof. MK Othman

September 29, 2025

I, too, must get American in-laws, the efficacy of prayers and other matters [I], by Hassan Gimba

September 28, 2025

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

ABU gets ₦4bn special funding to expand medical training

September 30, 2025

Forecast report: Global shipping enters “new regulatory era,” DNV warns

September 30, 2025

Dangote Refinery: PENGASSAN, NNPC, others evade service of court order to halt strike

September 30, 2025

Stop importing solutions, – APWEN advises Nigerian govt

September 30, 2025
About Us
About Us

ASHENEWS (AsheNewsDaily.com), published by PenPlus Online Media Publishers, is an independent online newspaper. We report development news, especially on Agriculture, Science, Health and Environment as they affect the under-reported rural and urban poor.

We also conduct investigations, especially in the areas of ASHE, as well as other general interests, including corruption, human rights, illicit financial flows, and politics.

Contact Info:
  • 1st floor, Dogon Daji House, No. 5, Maiduguri Road, Sokoto
  • +234(0)7031140009
  • ashenewsdaily@gmail.com
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
© 2025 All Rights Reserved. ASHENEWS Daily Designed & Managed By DeedsTech

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.