INSTITUTIONAL AUTONOMY AND THE OBJECTS OF THE UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA

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Institutional autonomy

In this sub-section, I consider the requisite features of a university that enjoys autonomy. I argue that features such as corporate status, perpetual succession, power to sue and to be sued are meant to facilitate the realisation of objects of the university. I consider the futility of discussing absolute autonomy as against degree of autonomy on the strength of the recognition of diverse autonomy such as institutional autonomy, academic autonomy and financial autonomy. I finally examine the provisions of the University Autonomy Act 2007 as it restores the appointment powers of the Council and as it prescribes qualification for membership of the Council. Julius Okojie117 defines university autonomy as the right of a university to choose its government (institutional autonomy), academic staff and programmes (academic autonomy) and to generate and expend its financial resources (financial autonomy) et cetera without the interference of government or any of its agencies, all within the limits of existing laws and guidelines.118 I find the definition119 to be very helpful because of Okojie‟s recognition of diverse autonomy and his appreciation of degree of autonomy. A discussion of institutional autonomy without exploration of the diverse autonomy and degree of observance of the autonomy will not make any mark. I discuss the varied degrees of autonomy in Chapter One.120 Institutional autonomy to Okojie is the state where the university operates not as a parastatal of the Ministry of Education but as a statutory body, established by law to deliver university education in Nigeria. This the university does base on the committee system, with the vice-chancellor providing overall guidance and leadership for academic, administrative and financial matters.

Freedom of expression

I discuss freedom of expression in the context of university education and do consider whether messages that the lecturer passes in his lecture materials and question papers constitute expression, which has a link with impartation of knowledge. On the other hand, I enquire whether messages, which the student passes in his answer script, constitute an expression and do consider the relevance to teaching and impartation of knowledge. Freedom of expression is a consequential right to freedom of association as the latter would be irrelevant if a member in an association or group will be hindered in expressing what he thinks, feels and believes no matter how stupid. Freedom of expression is more relevant in teaching and in the mode that is adopted. As such, a dominant argument for free speech developed out of the conviction that truth was an inherent good and would prevail in an open fight with falsity or evil.48 The freedom of expression of scholars, by way of exchange of ideas with colleagues is essential for the operation of universities and for maintaining the high quality of academic research. I confirm here the positive links of freedom of expression to academic freedom and the realisation of the teaching and research object of a university. I refer to the messages that the lecturer passes in his lecture materials and question papers and hold that they are processes of expression.

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CHAPTER ONE  GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1 BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY
2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
5 METHODOLOGY OR APPROACH
6 ASSUMPTIONS
7 CONTEXT OF THE STUDY
8 DEFINITION AND MEANING OF MAJOR TERMS
9 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
10 STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS
11 SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER
CHAPTER TWO INSTITUTIONAL AUTONOMY AND THE OBJECTS OF THE UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA
1 INTRODUCTION
2 OBJECTS OF A UNIVERSITY
3 THE CONCEPT OF INSTITUTIONAL AUTONOMY
4 MANAGEMENT OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
5 FINANCIAL AUTONOMY
6 REVIEW OF RELEVANT LEGAL PROVISIONS
7 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER THREE INSTITUTIONAL AUTONOMY AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM
1 INTRODUCTION
2 ACADEMIC FREEDOM
3 ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND RELATED RIGHTS4 RELATIONSHIP AND IMPACT OF INSTITUTIONAL AUTONOMY ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM
4 MANAGEMENT OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
5 LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM
6 REVIEW OF RELEVANT LEGAL PROVISIONS
7 ABUSES OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM
8 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER FOUR UNIVERSITY DISCIPLINARY AUTONOMY
1 INTRODUCTION
2 THE DISCIPLINARY STRUCTURE OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES
3 Legal provisions on internal discipline
4 Conditions for external control of discipline
5 Conflict in provisions of the law
6 Benefits of external control on disciplinary autonomy
7 CHALLENGES TO JUDICIAL REVIEW
8 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1 INTRODUCTION
2 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
3 General conclusion

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