Removal of 12 VCs violates University Act ---ASUU
(Nigeria) The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on
Tuesday in Abuja said, that the recent removal of 12 vice-chancellors of Federal
universities by the Federal Government amounted to a violation of the law.
Dr Nasir Isa, ASUU President said this while briefing
newsmen on the “state of the nation.”
On February 12, the Federal Government 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.
``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, ''Isa said.
He said that only a council had the power to appoint a
vice-cChancellor in accordance with the law.
The ASUU president also said that on the appointment of a
vice-chancellor, 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-cChancellor , one candidate
from among three candidates recommended to it and thereby inform the visitor.
He said that 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.
``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 said that the government should mandate `` the councils
to immediately commence the process of appointing new vice-chancellors for the
affected universities.”
Isa said 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.
``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, ''he said.
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