The Federal Government has halted alleged moves by outgoing Vice Chancellors of federal universities to impose their successors without a governing council.
To this end, the government has urged outgoing vice-chancellors to immediately nominate Deputy Vice-Chancellors who will succeed them in a temporary capacity, pending the inauguration of governing councils.
This development many have put to end speculations that Vice Chancellors whose tenures would soon end would impose their successors.
The Guardian reports that the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) is currently embroiled in crisis, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Branch has downed tools over an advertorial placed by the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, for the position of a new VC.
But in a letter to federal universities routed through the National Universities Commission (NUC), dated 28th May, 2024, Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman called on outgoing VCs to immediately nominate Deputy Vice Chancellors that will succeed them in temporary capacity.
Signed on his behalf by the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Raskiat Ilyasu, Prof. Mamman, stressed that the move must have the approval of the Senate in the concerned institutions.
Addressed to the Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Mayaki, the correspondence with reference number FME/TE/U/130/T6/458 was titled, ‘End of tenure of some Vice-Chancellors of federal universities’.
The Minister noted that governing councils would initiate the processes of appointing substantive vice-chancellors when inaugurated.
Ilyasu said, “I am directed to inform you to kindly disseminate the following information to all the Vice-Chancellors whose tenure will be completed soon:
“To nominate through the recommendation of the Senate a Deputy Vice- Chancellor that will oversee office of the Vice-Chancellor in a temporary capacity.
“The Governing Council after inauguration would appoint an Acting Vice- Chancellor for a period not less than 6 months during which the Council will commence the process of appointing a substantive Vice- Chancellor.”
