Appoint deputies in acting positions, NUC directs outgoing VCs

The Federal Government has directed outgoing vice-chancellors in federal universities to nominate their deputies to temporarily serve as acting vice-chancellors.

This was conveyed by the National Universities Commission in a letter to the outgoing vice chancellors which was dated May 28, 2024.

The letter signed by the acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, said the move was prompted by a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education, which duly notified the commission on the end of the tenure of some vice-chancellors.

While saying the appointment of the acting vice-chancellors should be done through the recommendations of the universities’ senates, NUC said the soon-to-be inaugurated governing councils of the universities would appoint acting vice-chancellors after their inauguration.

A copy of the letter obtained by newsmen in Abuja read: “I write, further to previous communication Ref. No. NUC/ES/138/Vol. 65/88 and dated 27 May 2024, to convey the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education, vide its letter Ref. No. FME/TE/CỰ/130/T6/458 and dated 28 May 2024 (copy attached), to the effect that Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities, who are rounding up their tenures, are to nominate, through the recommendation of their Senates, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor that will oversee the office of the Vice-Chancellor in a temporary capacity.

“The Governing Councils, after their inauguration, will appoint Acting Vice-Chancellors for a period not less than 6 months, during which they will commence the process of appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellors.

“This circular takes pre-eminence over our earlier communication on the same subject.

“Please accept the assurances of my highest considerations, always.”

The PUNCH reports that there has been an ongoing tussle between some outgoing VCs and the Academic Staff Union of Universities over the appointment of substantive VCs.

Recently, ASUU, University of Abuja chapter embarked on a strike following the move by the outgoing VC, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, to advertise the position of Vice-chancellorship of the institution in national newspapers without the notice of a structured governing council.