FCSC Chair Olaopa Calls for University Governance Reform

At a special convening in Abuja, Olaopa, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, called for amendments to existing university establishment Acts to grant full operational and academic autonomy to universities, including the Federal University Lokoja (FUL). He emphasized that the current legal framework hampers universities' ability to mobilize resources and respond to societal needs.

Olaopa proposed an "all-of-people partnership model" to broaden governance beyond traditional structures. He criticized the separation of strategic planning from budgeting, which leads to inefficiencies.

Prof Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, Vice Chancellor of FUL, urged the private sector to view the university as an investment opportunity rather than a charity case. He highlighted FUL's growth since its establishment in 2011, now serving over 30,000 students across 17 faculties and two campuses, and stressed the need for private investment to meet infrastructure demands.