New Officials to replace Ex INEC boss, Prof. Jega’s Governing Council in Plateau State University

A new governing council will be announced this week for the Plateau State University, Bokkos, as demanded by striking lecturers, Officials say.

Chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, PLASU branch, Dr. Bentse Pamson, Monday announced a local strike over lack of a governing council, underfunding, unpaid allowances, minimum wage and poor infrastructure.

A prior warning was given last December, as the national body suspended its nine months old industrial action.

Less than 24hrs after the start of the strike, the State Governor, Simon Lalong visited the University for “project inspection”.

The Governor said contrary to claims by the striking lecturers that the University lacked State funded infrastructures, Government had invested “huge sums” to its physical and technical development before reopening it after previous administration shut it down.

He said, “it is very unfortunate for people to play politics with everything including education. How can you say that the proprietor of a University has no projects in it? I was part of the founding of this institution when I was Speaker. People will remember that when I came into office, the University was shut down.

“We did everything possible to reopen it and today, it has blossomed and is fast growing. It is therefore very sad and untrue for this insinuation to come from people who should know better. This is nothing but pure mischief”.

He appealed to the striking lecturers to resume work, assuring of efforts to resolve their concerns, the Constitution of a governing council included.

Tenure of the last Governing Council led by former Chairman of the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, expired in 2019.

The University has been without a direction without a new council, ASUU officials say.