By Nasir Isa
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have said that it doesn’t have the power to compel universities to declare holidays in order to enable students to vote during the forthcoming general elections.
The media aide to the chairman of the Commission, Rotimi Oyekanmi,said it is beyond INEC to dictate to varsities how to run their calender.
He said, “Each university has a governing council that decides how the university should be run. I doubt it, although I stand to be corrected, if the National Universities Commission can indeed issue a directive to universities on when to go on holidays or operate.
“Don’t forget that we also have private and state universities that are not being funded by the Federal Government, although the NUC performs its oversight functions on their academic programmes, which are subjected to regular accreditation exercise.
“In the same manner, INEC cannot compel any university to announce a holiday for election purposes. We don’t have such powers. This decision is best left to the governing council of the individual universities.”
Echoing INEC’s views, the Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, has said that the governing councils of each respective universities’ will decide whether or not to put academic activities on hold for the polls.
Recall that different stakeholders have been calling for universities to declare holidays for students to collect their Permanent Voter Cards and also vote in the coming polls.
