Ex-INEC Chair,Prof.Jega,Advocates Merit-Based Leadership in Nigerian Universities
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and renowned academic, Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, has called on the Federal Government to entrench merit, competence, and integrity as the guiding principles in the appointment of leadership across Nigerian universities.
He warned that the increasing politicisation of such appointments poses a serious threat to academic standards, institutional autonomy, and the future of higher education in the country.
Professor Jega made this call on Thursday while delivering the 3rd Abdullahi Mahadi Annual Memorial Lecture at Gombe state University, Gombe State. The lecture, titled “Challenges and Prospects of Improving University Governance in Nigeria,” examined the structural, administrative, and policy-related obstacles confronting university governance in Nigeria.
The distinguished Professor of Political Science and a one time Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, described universities as specialised intellectual institutions that require visionary, experienced, and academically grounded leadership to fulfil their mandates of teaching, research, and community service.
“A university is not a political platform. It is a centre for knowledge creation and human capital development. It cannot achieve its core objectives when leadership appointments are driven by political considerations rather than academic merit,” he stated.
Professor Jega expressed deep concern over persistent political interference in the appointment of vice-chancellors, governing council members, and other principal officers. He observed that this trend has weakened governance structures, encouraged poor administrative decisions, undermined staff morale, and contributed significantly to the gradual decline in the quality of higher education in the country.
He stressed the urgent need for transparent, competitive, and merit-driven selection processes, anchored on clear criteria, academic record, leadership experience, and professional credibility. According to him, insulating universities from undue political influence is essential for restoring confidence in the system and positioning Nigerian universities to compete favourably at the global level.
Professor Jega further warned that failure to reform university governance would continue to erode the capacity of tertiary institutions to produce graduates who are innovative, globally competitive, and capable of driving sustainable national development.
The memorial lecture was delivered in honour of the late Professor Abdullahi Mahadi, a pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Gombe State University, whose contributions to scholarship, leadership, and the growth of the institution were widely acknowledged during the event.
Speaking earlier as Chairman of the Occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere, Professor Umaru Pate, commended Gombe State University for sustaining the Abdullahi Mahadi Annual Memorial Lecture, describing it as a worthy tribute to the late pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
Professor Pate expressed appreciation to the GSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aliyu Yauta, and the university management for sustaining the initiative, noting that maintaining such academic traditions in Nigerian universities is often challenging.
He also described the Guest Lecturer, Professor Jega, as eminently qualified to speak on the theme, noting his deep experience in university governance and his long-standing professional relationship with the late Professor Abdullahi Mahadi.
Reflecting on Mahadi’s life, Professor Pate said the late scholar left behind an enduring legacy of service, scholarship, and institutional development at Gombe State University and beyond.
The lecture attracted a wide audience of academics, policymakers, students, and education stakeholders, including the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau. Participants described the event as timely and impactful in shaping the future of university governance in Nigeria.