LAGOS – An explanation provided by the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) on clarifications regarding the implementation of the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, particularly in relation to the tenure of Provosts, has pitched the Provost of the Federal College of Education, Technical (FCE,T), Akoka Lagos, Dr Wahab Azeez against staff members at the institution.
The clarification that was in response to a letter from the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Staff Unions of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, dated 8th April 2024, which requested clarity to avoid potential crises in the sector.
However, the clarifications purportedly given by the Federal Ministry of Education did not go down well with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Staff Unions of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka that insisted the sitting Provost cannot complete his second tenure in office under the provisions of the Act.
The controversial statement issued by the Ministry’s Legal Unit on May 23, 2024, stated the amended Act stipulates a single, non-renewable five-year term for Provosts of Federal Colleges of Education.
The statement highlighted key provisions of the Act, including the single term of five years as per section 13(6) of the amended Act, meaning Provosts are now limited to a single term of five years without the possibility of renewal.
Transitional arrangements under section 13(7) address the status of Provosts appointed before the Act was enacted.
Specifically, the explanation stated that Provosts with less than five years in office will serve a single term of five years, regardless of their original appointment terms.
It added that those serving a second term at the time the Act was enacted will complete their current four-year term without any extension.
Further scenario-specific interpretations were provided; for Provosts who had not completed their first four-year term before the Act’s enactment, an additional year is added to make it a five-year term, with no option for renewal. For Provosts re-appointed for a second four-year term before the Act’s commencement, this term will be their final one, and they will not transition to a five-year term.
The Ministry emphasized that these measures are intended to uphold justice and equity by allowing Provosts to complete their appointed terms without disruption. The clear language of the Act reflects the legislative intent to provide stability and prevent ambiguity in leadership transitions within the Colleges of Education.
Interpretation Biased, Says JAC
Staff of the College through the
JAC kicked against the elongation of the Provost’s tenure.
They rubbished the earlier interpretations by the Federal Ministry of Education insising that the Provost by their reckoning had completed his single 5 years tenure having being in office since 2019.
In an interview with Daily Independent, Comrade Austin Nwachukwu, a Principal Registrar at the College insisted that Wahab Azeez has served out his tenure and should vacate based on the provisions of the Federal Colleges of Education Act 2023.
Nwachukwu said the interpretation purportedly provided by the legal unit of the Ministry was funny and completely rejected by the staff of the College.
Members of the JAC in chorus sang, “Azeez must go, Azeez must go, Azeez must go, Azeez has gone.”
What The Act Says
Quoting copiously from the Act, he said, “Section 6 says “The Provost shall hold office for a single term of five years only, beginning with the effective date of his appointment and on the terms and conditions, as may be specified in the letter of appointment.
” If on the commencement of this section a Provost appointed before the commencement of this Act has held office for
“(a) less than five years, the Provost shall be deemed to be serving the five-year single term and shall not have right for the renewal appointment for a further term of four years; of his
“(b) more than five years and serving the second term of office, be deemed to be serving the last term of office without any further extension.”
He said section 17 (a) of the was clear about the tenure of Dr Wahab Azeez who is deemed to have served a five year single term being in the first year of his second tenure.
My Tenure Not Affected By Act- Azeez Insists
In an interview with Daily Independent, Provost of the College, Dr Wahab Azeez explained that his tenure was not affected by the Act because his second term tenure predated the commencement of the Act in 2023.
“I completed my first term tenure of 4 years in May 2023 and applied for renewal of tenure to the Governing Council and based on my excellent performance, the Governing Council approved my application and recommended the same to the Federal Ministry of Education to which President Ahmed Bola Tinubu approved my reappointment.
“My second term tenure commenced on 26th of May 2023. The letter of appointment was handed over to me in January this year. The Act was signed by the President on 12th of June, 2023.
“They wrote to the Ministry, thier employer, that confirmed the Provost has another tenure to complete.
“They are still disregarding the interpretation of the Act by the Ministry which clearly stated that Provosts re-appointed for a second four-year term before the Act’s commencement, this term will be their final one, and they will not transition to a five-year term.”
He enjoined the warring staff members to respect the interpretations of the Act by the Ministry of Education without disturbing the peace of the campus.
He advised all staff to about their duties and responsibilities, saying that the sponsors of the protest should respect the law.
