The Committee of Pro-chancellors of State-owned Universities (COPSUN) has reiterated the importance of University autonomy and called on the State governments to uphold the principle of autonomy.
The committee disclosed this in a communique issued at the end its 62nd Quarterly Meeting and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by Mr Marcus Awobifa, Secretary of COPSUN.
The communique added that the State Universities Governing Councils should be given free hands to determine the school fees of their various Universities having regard to the modern economic realities in the country.
While also urging the Federal Government to curb brain drain in the universities, it said that COPSUN observed that the brain drain syndrome had taken its huge toll on the university system making many lecturers to seek for greener pastures abroad.
It therefore called on the federal government to declare the development as a matter of national concern deserving urgent solution.
On university funding, it appealed to state governments to improve the funding of state-owned Universities, saying that state Universities have better understanding to contribute to the social, economic and technological advancement of the people.
It further charged the Vice Chancellors of state universities to be more proactive and seek for alternative sources of revenue to supplement government funding.
“By so doing, the Vice Chancellors of State Universities will be creating a niche for themselves as the master of development of tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” it said.
It also revealed that the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Gombe State University, Sen. Joshua Lidani was elected as the new chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria.
“Senator Joshua Lidani who was a former Deputy Governor of Gombe State and former Senator for the Gombe South constituency of Gombe State, replaces Yusuf Ali, SAN who bowed out of COPSUN.
“This follows dissolution of the governing council of the Osun State University where he was the Pro-Chancellor.
“Prof. Ayodeji Omole, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso became the Vice Chairman at the election.
“Also, Pro-Chancellors of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Prof. R.B. Ikomi; Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin, Alhaja Sakeenat Yusuf and Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Dr. Hahiru Bala were elected members of the new executive council respectively,” it said.
