The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Tuesday said the National Universities Commission and other tertiary institutions regulatory agencies do not have the powers to close universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to allow students to go and vote during the forthcoming elections.
A member of the National Executive Council of ASUU and chairperson of the union at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof Gbolahan Bolarin, who disclosed this, said “The only authority that can order this closure apart from the Senate of each institution is the Federal Ministry of Education and the order will be given on behalf of the visitor to all the universities, which is the President.
“By the time the ministry gives the order, the NUC will comply and the directives will be passed down. The House of Representatives should talk to the President about this. The NUC is powerless on this matter.”
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives last week Thursday passed a resolution asking the NUC to shut universities so that the students can take part in the forthcoming elections.
In another development, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has called on the European Union Election Observation Mission to ensure that over three million eligible Nigerian students were allowed to vote for their preferred candidate in the election slated for February 25.
Obi said, “I am sure the Independent National Electoral Commission will do the right thing.”
He added, “I am sure the universities will give them the break to go and vote. It is important because it is about their future. This election is about these young people, and I am sure they will allow them to go and vote. We will continue to mention it to them as we go along.”
