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Vice Chancellors kick against sack of colleagues

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The Committee of Vice-chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVC)  kicked against the recent sack of Vice Chancellors of 12 twelve federal universities and the National Open University of Nigeria,  NOUN,  warning against government policy directives capable of denigrating the office of university Vice-Chancellors.

In a statement issued by the CVC by its Secretary General, Professor Michael O. Faborode, the committee said it learned of the appointment of 13 new Vice-Chancellors for 12 Federal Universities and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) at the weekend on television, adding that the action of the Federal Government  represents a minus for the nation’s university system, pleading that they be reversed in the interest of the good intention of President Muhammadu concerning the universities.

According to the CVC, apart from the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, the tenure of the Vice Chancellors of the nine federal universities which were established in 2011 was scheduled to expire on Monday, February 15, meaning it was incorrect to say they were being sacked.

“As far as the CVC is concerned there can be no justification for their being sacked, having labored stridently to establish enduring foundations for the fledgling universities”.

Read also: Buhari sacks VCs of 12 Federal Universities

The committee added that the date of the announcement being three days earlier on Friday, 12 February, conveyed the wrong message that the new VCs were expected to assume office on that date, and thereby giving the wrong impression that the outgoing VCs were sacked, adding that all eight 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 CVC also frowned at the sack of the VCs of thethree new Federal Universities at Birnin Kebi, Gashua and Gusau, as well as that at Oye-Ekiti, saying the move does not conform with the prevailing practice in the university system.

“The VCs have an 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 statement said.

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