Mr. Daburi Bello Misal reading the communique
By Felix Khanoba
The Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) has called for life salaries and improved post-retirement welfare for university registrars, while condemning the proliferation of unofficial offices such as “First Ladies,” Personal Assistants and Special Assistants within Nigerian universities.
The demands formed part of a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s 4th Annual Workshop and 79th Business Meeting, held from July 6 to 10 at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Auditorium in Abuja.
The communiqué, read by the Chairman of the Communiqué Committee and Registrar of Bingham University, Mr. Daburi Bello Misal, followed deliberations by registrars from federal, state and private universities on the theme, “Nigerian Universities in the Era of Technological Transformation: Challenges, Opportunities and Pathways to Sustainable Growth.”
ARNU said it observed that some university registrars were being sidelined from carrying out their statutory responsibilities, particularly in the appointment of principal officers.
The association also expressed concern over what it described as the increasing creation of irregular offices within universities.
According to the communiqué, “The Meeting observed with concern the proliferation of inappropriate and irregular nomenclature within the Nigerian University System, such as Personal Assistants, First Ladies, and Special Assistants, among others, which are inconsistent with established career structures and global best practices.”
The registrars stressed that vice-chancellors and registrars must work closely to strengthen governance and improve discipline across Nigerian universities.
The communiqué stated, “Impunity and indiscipline have been observed to be endemic in the system as is the case in Nigeria. The Chief Executive Officers and Registrars are expected to work as a team to stem the tide.”
ARNU further urged vice-chancellors and principal officers to hold regular consultations before meetings of governing councils and senates to enhance institutional coordination and proactively manage risks.
The association advocated enhanced welfare packages for registrars and bursars after retirement, including severance benefits and life salaries comparable to those enjoyed by professors.
It stated that “Improved welfare packages, including severance benefits, should be provided for served-out Registrars and Bursars to retire with life salaries just like that of Professor upon completion of their tenure as it is obtainable with other professionals.”
The association also called for the digitalisation of registry operations through a universal human resource management system to improve efficiency, transparency and service delivery across universities.
On funding, ARNU appealed to the Federal Government to tackle what it described as the persistent underfunding of federal universities, while also urging the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to sponsor the association’s foreign educational tours.
Among its recommendations, the association asked the National Universities Commission to harmonise professional cadres and official nomenclature across Nigerian universities to eliminate unauthorised offices.
It also called for an end to the appointment of non-career administrators as registrars and opposed the practice of appointing academic staff to head non-academic directorates such as Academic Planning, ICT, Works and Physical Planning.
ARNU further urged universities to domesticate data protection policies in line with the Nigerian Data Protection Act and global best practices.
The association welcomed the agreement reached between the Federal Government and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), but urged the government to implement the outstanding arrears arising from the 35 per cent salary increase approved for non-teaching staff with effect from January 1, 2026.
Reaffirming its commitment to professionalism and accountability, the communiqué stated that the partnership between vice-chancellors and registrars remains the administrative backbone of Nigerian universities.
It added, “The Workshop further emphasized that institutional excellence is not achieved merely through the existence of policies but through disciplined implementation, effective leadership, accountability, professionalism, and continuous capacity development.”
The association pledged to continue engaging stakeholders in advancing reforms aimed at strengthening university governance and improving administrative leadership across the nation’s higher education system.
