The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Tuesday, stated that the sacking of the 12 vice-chancellor of the newly estblished federal universities was a clear violation of the law.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, through the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, recently fired the VCs of the new federal universities established by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
President of ASUU, Nasir Isa, while speaking with reporters in Abuja, stated that the National Executive Council of ASUU was concerned by the news.
“Going by the provisions of the Nigerian University Miscellaneous (Amendment) Act 2003, only the Governing Councils are bestowed with the powers of appointing and removing vice-chancellors.”
“The latest action in these universities has justified our consistent demand for proper governance structure and process in Nigerian University System.”
“In the first place, vice-chancellors were arbitrarily appointed into these institutions and the governing councils instituted without making their enabling law public. We are worried that the same cycle of illegality is playing out again.”
“In a university where there is the law, only the governing council is empowered to remove a vice-chancellor from office for a good cause.”
While referencing the University Amendment Act of 2003, 4 (b), that states the only the university governing “council shall select and appoint as vice-Chancellor, one candidate from among three candidates recommended to it and thereby inform the visitor”, Isa argued that the VCs can only be removed by the University governing council.
“This could be as a result of infirmity of the body or mind, at the initiative of the council, senate or the congregation after due process.”
“We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to tow the path of legality and due process by gazetting the law appointing the councils.”
He also said that federal government should mandate “the councils to immediately commence the process of appointing new vice-chancellors for the affected universities.”
On the case of sacked National Open University Vice-chancellor, the ASUU chairman stated that: “This Act particularly applies to all Federally- funded universities in Nigeria, inclusive of NOUN.”
“Since the vice chancellor had served a five-year term, he should not be given an extended term of even one day. Fair and just institution abhor ad hoc laws tailored to the advantage of special individuals.”
