A Psychiatric Consultant at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) and the institution’s Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Chris Piwuna, has been elected President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
He clinched the ASUU Presidency at the union’s 23rd National Delegates Congress (NDC) concluded at the University of Benin in Benin City, Edo State.
He takes over from Prof Victor Osodeke, of the Department of Soil Science at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.
The keenly contested election saw Piwuna secure victory, defeating his opponent, Prof Adamu Babayo of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
The NDC, an organ of ASUU, brought together delegates from various Universities across the country to deliberate on key issues affecting tertiary education in Nigeria and to elect new leadership.
Piwuna’s assumption of the ASUU Presidency comes at a critical time for Nigerian Universities, with ongoing discussions surrounding funding, Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) of academic staff, mass labour migration from the Universities (brain drain), issues of autonomy, and improved welfare for academic staff.
His leadership is expected to guide the ASUU’s engagements with the government and other stakeholders in addressing the pertinent challenges.