SAN FRANCISCO, February 15, (THEWILL) – The Committee of Vice-chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVC) have clarified insinuations that 13 of its members were sacked by the Federal Government saying it was a wrong impression.
The group made the clarification via a press release, obtained by THEWILL, signed by Professor Michael Faborode, Secretary General, on behalf of the Committee
It stated that nine of the vice chancellors had completed their tenures and could not have been sacked as they had already handed over before the announcement.
“For the 9 Federal Universities established in 2011, except the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, the tenure of the Vice Chancellors expires on Monday February 15, hence it will be wrong to say they are being sacked,” the group said.
“Perhaps the date of the announcement being Friday 12 February conveyed a wrong message that the new VCs were expected to assume office on that date, thereby giving a wrong impression that the outgoing VCs were sacked.
“This is far from the true position. Indeed, from information available to us, all 8 VCs had handed over to their respective Ag. Vice-Chancellors (appointed by their Governing Councils) against Monday Feb 15, in line with provisions of the University Miscellaneous Act.
The group also appealed to the government to allow the other university dons complete their tenures.
“For the 3 new Federal Universities at Birnin Kebi, Gashua and Gusau, and that at Oye-Ekiti, whose VC was appointed after the pioneer VC, Prof C. Nebo, was named Minister, we are surprised that new Vice Chancellors are announced to have been appointed, as this does not conform to the extant practice in the university system,” the statement continued.
“The VCs have inviolable tenure of 5 years. The situation is even made worse by the announced appointment of a new VC for NOUN, which is no stranger to the statutory process of appointing a VC. We plead that these Vice Chancellors should be allowed to complete their tenure or proper statutory and transparent procedures be adopted if they are accused of any wrong doings.
“The power to appoint and remove a substantive Vice-Chancellor, and when the need arises, an acting Vice Chancellor, is vested in the Governing Councils. The National Open University has a Council in place.
“We are now aware that the Councils of the 12 Federal universities were dissolved unceremoniously a day earlier, and the appointment of new ones announced. We have said before that though a 4-year tenure was prescribed for Governing Councils, the reality of change of government may necessitate re-constitution of such Councils if the Government feels compelled to do so.
“In our candid and unbiased opinion, the Minister should have allowed the new Councils to be properly fully constituted and sworn-in, and then take the statutory responsibility of setting the machinery in motion to appoint the substantive VCs for the universities.”
“The best approach for this however calls for greater synergy between all stakeholders, and Vice Chancellors are very central to this process. Hence policy initiatives that will in anyway connote the denigration of the exulted office should be avoided,” it concluded.
Story by David Oputah
