President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday 24th March, apologised over the sack of the Boards of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the 12 Federal universities that were established by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
PMB, while speaking at the APC National Secretariat during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, said he had to rescind the order for the suspension or dissolving of the Universities Boards, after discovering that according to the laws of the universities, Vice Chancellors can’t be appointed unless the Boards have their statutory meeting and interview candidates vying for the position of VCs.
According to him, “We gave a blanket order which we had to rescind when we said all boards are suspended or dissolved. We had to go back and lick our vomit in terms of university boards because we found out that according to their laws, they cannot choose Vice Chancellors unless the Boards sit down, interview prospective candidates who wants to be VCs. So, there is nothing wrong in saying sorry and going back on your decision. So, we said sorry and allow all the universities to continue with their boards. But for the rest, eventually, we will make it. So, please, try to bear with us as we reflect on where we found ourselves.”