University Academics, Election Miasma And Other Matters

 By Ighodalo Clement Eromosele

Desirous to enhance the credibility of the 2015 general elections, the Chairman of Independent Electoral Commission, then Professor Attahiru Jega, invited university academics including Vice-Chancellors to participate in the various processes – collation and announcement – of election results. 

This national assignment was in consonance with one of the tripodal duties of the academic namely, community service, the others being teaching and research. It was, apriori, anchored also on the general belief, over the years, that in the pristine traditions of the academia, the academic is incorruptible and will not lend him/herself to unethical practices without consequences. Further, the academic in taking on the assignment was expected to exercise sound judgment, without fear or favour on matters as may arise in the course of duty.

The subsequent elections, 2019 and 2023, in conduct, shenanigans and miasma have raised fundamental questions on the propriety of the confidence that had been reposed on our university academics. The gamut of alleged complicities of academics, advertently or inadvertently, in the monumentally flawed elections are a negation of the reputation of a vast majority of academics who honourably did not participate in them or were not party to the malfeasance.

Indeed, it is a negative stamp on the Nigerian university system. It is disconcerting, when allusions are made in gatherings that professors help to rig elections! The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is uncomfortable with the development and has since dissociated itself from election exercises, allowing individual staff to take decisions on it. This decision, though welcome, is unhelpful and not far-reaching to checkmate collateral damages that may be done to the entire body of academics and indeed of the university system for the misconduct which may be committed by one academic staff member in the circumstance.

The involvement of Vice-Chancellors in the election process is a complication to the extent of their vulnerability to unwholesome antics of unscrupulous politicians and the consequent erosion of the ethical and moral high ground to discipline erring staff of the university on any matter. In fairness, many academics involved in election cannot vouch that they are in firm control of the processes leading to the collation and subsequent announcement of winners. But in their capacities, they must then append their signatures to the outcomes. This is a reasonable ground for ASUU to have detached itself from the processes. It is also a reasonable ground to expect academics to step down their participation in it.

It is true that academics in federal universities are poorly paid. Indeed, the aftermath of the last 8-month strike, in unpaid salaries and earned academic allowances, has exacerbated the poor financial status of the academic, dislocating cooperative arrangements and repayment schedules. Yet, the raison d’etre for the strike has not been addressed leaving the universities in the doldrums. 

In normal circumstances, it is infra dig for academics to accept the mundane duties of conducting elections on behalf of INEC, except for reasons adduced supra. Otherwise, where in the world would academics be so mobilized? Furthermore, for reasons of insecurity arising from primitive politicians who deploy thugs, endangering lives, it is reasonable to expect non-participation of academics in the election process.

Regrettably, many academics were involved in the 2023 elections, perhaps for reason of patriotism or for reason of basic necessity. But lest we forget, the overall boss of INEC is an academic and a professor. Indeed, we have had professors as head of INEC some of who performed creditably – Humphrey Nwosu and Attahiru Jega. 

These academics left a mark of honour on the sands of time and on the body of academics. They are proud ambassadors of the university system. Admittedly, where INEC fails to deliver credible elections, it is for multifarious reasons, not least of which is the integrity of the INEC boss and staff. For the 2023 elections, the role of INEC in the abysmal failure of the electoral processes is under scrutiny.

The Nigerian university system needs repositioning to restore the pristine order which characterize the Ivory Tower and to be truly a beacon of society. It is preposterous that ASUU has embarked on many strikes ostensibly to press government to re-engineer the university system, provide congenial working environment and respectable salaries for academic staff. 

Yet, year in year out, virtually all academic programmes of universities are either on full accreditation or on interim accreditation with hardly anyone denied. If academic programmes are so accredited why the strike? Clearly, the accreditation status of programmes is not reflective of the realities on ground, meaning the accreditation processes have been compromised.

Yet, academics are involved in the processes. It is my submission that the cosmetic preparation for accreditation by universities given the liberty of time is a negation of the overarching objective of the exercise, that is, to ascertain the real status of the programme in teaching and research facilities and the faculty. In my opinion, it will suffice to give a very short notice for the exercise.

A disturbing requirement is the need to engrave teaching and research facilities not for security reasons but for proof of ownership by the university. This, undeniably, impugns negatively on the integrity of operators of the university system, nay the academics. It is, sadly, an attempt to forestall any move by persons to pervert the accreditation processes.

Still on integrity, the appointment process of the professor, the highest rank of the academic, is fairly similar across universities in Nigeria, involving internal and external mechanisms to assess scholarly output, focus and international visibility. The rigour of the processes may differ for universities. 

Circumvention of any of the requirement for elevation of persons to the rank is an abuse of the process and raises a question on its integrity. ASUU has had cause to raise objection to elevation of a serving minister of the federal government to the rank of professor under circumstances that cannot be justified for the purpose. Therefore, the Nigerian university must be mindful of the integrity of its processes.

The need to reposition the university system is an imperative but it must be within the framework of a new Nigeria which recognizes the overarching role of the institution as a development instrument equipped to discharge its onerous duties in all ramifications. It demands restoration of enabling working environment and competitive welfare packages for the faculty in ways that dignify them. It demands full autonomy as has been canvassed by ASUU over the years to allow for creativity and innovation in management and, in research for development.

*Professor Ighodalo Clement Eromosele is Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.