USA Africa Dialogue Series - Minister and Reps face off over sacked 12 VCs

 

My People:

This illegality and impunity of replacing five of our colleagues peremptorily without rhyme or reason should/must not stand.  The mistake must be admitted publicly by the Buhari administration, Federal Minister Adamu Adamu must be called to order to stop pushing  either the word "sack" or the ridiculous notion of the illegality of the twelve universities (a large number of which have already graduated students in accredited programmes),  appropriate restitution made to the aggrieved Vice-Chancellors, and the right thing done forthwith in broadening the base of the leadership of tertiary education in the country.

Bolaji Aluko

Immediate Past VC

Federal University Otuoke

 

 TABLE 1:  OLD AND NEW VCs OF SOME NEW  NIGERIAN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES

(Put in this form by NM)

 

S/N	University	No. of applicant for job before process was suspends	Name of New VC	State of Origin	Previous University/Position	Immediate Past VC	Previous University/Position	State of Origin	Term of Immediate Past Expiring/Expired
1	NOUN    (Open University)	NA	Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu (Mass Communications)	Kano	Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano	Prof. Vincent Tenebe (Agronomy)	Abubakar Tafewa Balewa University, Maiduguri	Kaduna	February 17, 2018
2	Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State	NA	Prof. Kayode Soremekun (International Relations)	Ogun	A former Head, Department of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife	Prof. Isaac Asuzu (Veterinary Medicine)	University of Nigeria, Nsukka   (replaced Prof. Nebo in February 2013)	Imo	February 17, 2018
3	Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State	NA	Prof. Auwal Yadudu  (Law)	Kano	Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano	Prof. Lawal Bilbis (Biochemistry)	Usmanu Dan Fodio University	Zamfara	February 17, 2018
4	Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State	NA	Prof. Andrew Haruna (Linguistics)	Bauchi	Department of Linguistics, University of Jos	Prof.  Shehu Abdulrahman (Agricultural Economics)	Nassarawa State University, Keffi, Nassarawa State	Nassarawa	February 17, 2018
5	Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State	NA	Prof. Magaji Garba (Pharmacy)	Kano	Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy, ABU, Zaria	Prof. Ben Chuks Okeke (Education Science)	Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State	Anambra	February 17, 2018
6	Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State	19	Prof. Abubakar Musa  Kundiri	Borno	Formerly Lecturer/DVC then Substantive Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State  (essentially transferred)	Prof. Geoff Okogbaa (Industrial Engineering)	University of Southern Florida, USA	Rivers	February 15, 2016
7	Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State	Process completed; new VC  (Prof. Kundiri, now transferred to Wukari) emerged	Prof. Fatima Batoul Muktar  (Biology)	Kano	Department of Biology, North West University, Kano	Prof. J.D. Amin (Veterinary Medicine)	University of Maiduguri (a former VC)	Adamawa	February 15, 2016
8	Federal University, Dutsin Ma, Katsina State	33	Prof. Haruna Abdu Kaita (Pharmacy)	Katsina	Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria	Prof. James Ayatse (Biochemistry)	University of Agriculture, Makurdi (A former VC)	Benue	February 15, 2016
9	Federal University, Kashere	18	Prof. Alhassan Mohammed Gani	Plateau	Institute of Maritime Studies, Federal University, Kashere in Gombe State	Prof. Mohammed K. Farouk (Education)	Florida International University, USA	Kano	February 15, 2016
10	Federal University, Lafia	61	Prof. Muhammad Sanusi Liman (Physics)	Nassarawa	Lecturer in the Department of Physics, Federal University, Lafia	Prof. (Mrs.) Ekanem Ipi Braide (Parasitology)	Cross-River State University, Calabar (A Former VC)	Cross-Rivers	February 15, 2016
11	Federal University, Lokoja	86	Prof. Angela Freeman Miri  (Linguistics)	Plateau	Linguistics Department, UNIJOS	Prof. Abdulmimi Rafindadi (Medicine)	Ahmadu Bello University	Katsina	February 15, 2016
12	Federal University, Ndifu-Alike, Ebonyi State	63	Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba  (Agric Economics)	Imo	Post-Graduate School, Imo State University, Owerri	Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe (Mathematics)	University of Lagos, Nigeria	Osun	February 15, 2016
13	Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State	23	Prof. Seth Accra Jaja  (Management)	Rivers	Department of Management, University of Port Harcourt	Prof. Mobolaji E. Aluko (Chemical Engineering)	Howard University, Washington DC, USA	Ekiti	February 15, 2016
	TOTAL	304

 

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Minister and Reps face off over sacked 12 VCs

March 2, 2016

– The minister of education and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education clashed over the sacking of 5 of the 12 university vice-chancellors

– The VCs being contested are the federal universities of Eyo-Ekiti, Binin Kebbi, Gusau, Gashua and the National Open University of Nigeria

– Adamu said the former VCs were sacked because there was no law backing their appointments

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education on Tuesday, March 1, clashed over the sacking of five of the 12 university vice-chancellors by the federal government.

According to The Punch, the minister and lawmakers exchanged words over the legality of the sacking of the VCs.

The VCs being contested include the federal universities of Oye-Ekiti, Birnin Kebbi, Gusau, Gashua and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

Adamu told the lawmakers that the former VCs were sacked because there was no law backing their appointments in the first place by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

For Prof. Vincent Tenebe, the former NOUN VC, Adamu said that the governing council of the university illegally extended his tenure.

Lawmakers who were enraged by his comments, argued that Buhari, as the visitor to the universities, could only sack VCs on the recommendation of the governing councils in liaison with the Senate.

Other members of the committee, Hon. Sam Onuigbo (Abia, PDP),Hon Ezenwa Onyebuchi (Imo,PDP),Hon Mojeed Alabi (Osun, APC) were of the opinion that the ministry should have waited for the tenure of the affected VCs to expire before their removal, The Nation reports.

A member of the committee, Prof. Mojeed Alabi, described the removal of the VCs as an act of "impunity."

Timothy Golu, in reaction to Adamu's claim that four of the universities were not properly established, another member of the committee, said the minister should have advised the president to close them down instead.

READ ALSO: ASUU head slams FG interference in universities

The lawmakers who were not satisfied with the minister's responses, asked Adamu to re-appear before the Committee on Tuesday, March 8th, 2016 with "facts and more convincing reasons for the sack."

Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has condemned the recent removal of 12 vice-chancellors of federal universities by the federal government describing it a violation of the law.

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Removal of 12 VCs is Illegal - ASUU

1 week ago

– The head of the ASUU condemns the recent removal of 12 vice-chancellors of federal universities by the federal government

– Dr. Isa said only the governing councils are bestowed with the powers of appointing and removing vice-chancellors

– The president also said the vice-chancellor could only be removed from office by the governing council on grounds of conduct

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday, February 23, in Abuja condemned the recent removal of 12 vice-chancellors of federal universities by the federal government describing it a violation of the law, NAN reports.

Nasir Isa, the ASUU president, stated this while briefing newsmen on the "state of the nation".

The federal government had on Friday, February 12, announced the removal of the vice-chancellors and appointment of their replacements.

Isa said ASUU National Executive Council received the news with a lot of concern due to its implication for due process, university autonomy and the growth and development of universities.

READ ALSO: Protesters at National Assembly demand VCs reinstated

He said: "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."

The ASUU president on the appointment of a vice-chancellor, said the council would only select the vice-chancellor and inform the visitor.

He said as stated in the University Amendment Act of 2003, 4 (b), the council shall select and appoint as vice-chancellor, one candidate from among three candidates recommended to it and thereby inform the visitor.

Isa said the vice-chancellor could only be removed from office by the governing council on grounds of conduct or inability to discharge the function of the office.

"We, therefore, call on the federal government to toe the path of legality and due process by gazetting the law appointing the councils," he said.

He said the government should mandate "the councils to immediately commence the process of appointing new vice-chancellors for the affected universities."

READ ALSO: Staff members cry as sacked VC leaves (photos)

However, Isa noted the removal of the vice-chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria was in conformity with the Amendment Act of 2003. He said the act provides five years non-renewable tenure for a vice-chancellor in the Nigerian university system.

In a related development, ASUU has called on the federal government to exempt federal universities from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy. Dr. Nasir Isa, the president of ASUU, made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

Isa said the TSA has made it difficult for the universities to fulfill their functions properly, especially in research fields.

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Lawyers petition AGF over appointment of NOUN VC

• In NATIONAL
• February 18, 2016
• Jonathan Hembe
• 
  

Few days after the removal of Vice Chancellors of federal universities, a civil society organisation, the Lawyers Alliance for the Defence of Democracy, has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami, over the sack of the VC of the National Open University VC, Prof. Vincent Tenebe.

In the petition dated February 16, 2016, the lawyers called for the reversal of the sack of the NOUN VC.

The National Co-ordinator of the group, Yusuf Zakari, also threatened court action if the Federal Government fails to rescind its decision.

The lawyers, in the petition, which was also copied to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, and the Pro-Chancellor of NOUN, frowned at the appointment of Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano to replace Tenebe.

They said, "Surprisingly, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who signed the aforesaid publication on behalf of Mr. President is from the academia and ought to appreciate the fact that each Federal University is established by an Act of the National Assembly.

"In the instant case, two major statutes provide the legal framework for the existence and governance of National Open University of Nigeria to wit; the establishing Act being the National Open University of Nigeria Act No. 6 of 1983 (now Cap N63, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) and Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act No. 11 of 1993, applicable to all Federal Universities in Nigeria, as amended by the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 1996 and further amended in 2003 and 2012, respectively.

"Section 3 (d) & (e) of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 1996 prescribes a 5 (Five) year single tenure for Vice-Chancellors of all Federal Universities on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the letter of appointment.

"It follows that the tenure system in Federal Universities is clearly distinguishable from that of the Civil Service. We are aware that the tenure of Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe is still subsisting as at the time he was purportedly removed on February 13, 2016. Moreover, Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe as Vice-Chancellor, unlike the Pro-Chancellor and Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, does not hold office at the pleasure of Mr. President.

"For the avoidance of doubt, we urge you to take a cursory look at Sections 2 (1) (c) and 2 (2) read together with the First Schedule to the National Open University Act No. 6 of 1983 (now Cap N63, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) which designate the Vice-Chancellor as one of the Principal Officers of the University who shall be appointed or removed from his office by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after consultation with the University Council.

"The above provisions are clear and unambiguous. Therefore, no individual shall be removed and or appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University by the President without first consulting with the Governing Council. We submit that the contracts of employment of Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities are unique and they cannot be unilaterally removed by Mr. President, as their removal must comply strictly with the procedures prescribed in the aforesaid statutes.

"Failure to so comply would entitle courts to declare the removal as null, void and of no effect whatsoever. Specifically, Section 4 of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 2003 stipulates the process for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor to involve calling for applications for the position from suitably qualified persons vide advertisement in national dailies.

"Thereafter, proper screening of applicants is conducted by the Governing Council and one of the applicants eventually emerges as the Vice-Chancellor. In the same vein, where a Vice Chancellor is to be removed from office before the expiration of his tenure for gross misconduct, it is the Governing Council that is empowered to recommend or effect the removal of such a Vice-Chancellor. We maintain that unless and until the present anomaly in the National Open University of Nigeria is corrected Mr. President would have set a bad precedent and the future of University education will suffer to the detriment of ordinary Nigerians."

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