Muhammadu Buhari
The sack of 13 Vice Chancellors by the federal government has aroused controversy and seemed to widen an existing gulf between the government and the university community. Paul Obi writes
Last week, the federal government relieved 13 Vice Chancellors of federal universities of their positions, causing a controversy that is worsening the relationship between the government and the universities. Both parties have returned to the trenches for battle.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the vice chancellors’ sack. He said it was not the unilateral decision of the ministry. In a statement, Adamu said, “President Buhari has approved the appointment of 13 new Vice Chancellors for the universities.”
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the vice chancellors’ sack. He said it was not the unilateral decision of the ministry. In a statement, Adamu said, “President Buhari has approved the appointment of 13 new Vice Chancellors for the universities.”
New Appointees
Four of the new appointees are from Kano State. Adamu’s statement said the substantive Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Professor Mohammed Kundiri, had been transferred to the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State. Adamu further stated that a former Head, Department of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Kayode Soremekun, who was said to be on sabbatical at NOUN, was the new Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, has Professor Auwal Yadudu, hitherto of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, as its new vice chancellor. Professor Fatima Batoul Muktar of the Department of Biology, North West University, Kano, was announced as the new vice chancellor of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State.
Four of the new appointees are from Kano State. Adamu’s statement said the substantive Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Professor Mohammed Kundiri, had been transferred to the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State. Adamu further stated that a former Head, Department of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Kayode Soremekun, who was said to be on sabbatical at NOUN, was the new Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, has Professor Auwal Yadudu, hitherto of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, as its new vice chancellor. Professor Fatima Batoul Muktar of the Department of Biology, North West University, Kano, was announced as the new vice chancellor of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State.
A lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Haruna Abdu Kaita, was made the new vice chancellor of Federal University, Dutsin Ma, Katsina State, while Professor Andrew Haruna of the Department of Linguistics, University of Jos, was appointed vice chancellor of the Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State.
Another lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy, ABU, Zaria, Professor Magaji Garba, was made vice chancellor of Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State, Professor Alhassan Mohammed Gani of the Institute of Maritime Studies, Federal University, Kashere in Gombe State, was elevated to the position of vice chancellor in same university. A lecturer in the Department of Physics, Federal University, Lafia, Professor Muhammad Sanusi Liman, was announced as vice chancellor of the institution. Professor Angela Freeman Miri of the Linguistics Department, UNIJOS, was made vice chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja.
The Federal University, Ndifu-Alike, Ebonyi State now has Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba of the Post-Graduate School, Imo State University, Owerri, as its vice chancellor, while Professor Seth Accra Jaja of the Department of Management, University of Port Harcourt, is now the vice chancellor of Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
Opposition
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups said the decision to sack the vice chancellors was wrong-headed and lacked legal procedure. In a protest letter to Buhari, the group demanded the reversal of the decision, including the replacement of the vice chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria with Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano. The coalition maintained that the sack amounted to the display of naked power by the executive. The protest letter to Buhari signed by CCSG president, Etuk Bassey Williams, and secretary-general, Ibrahim Abubakar, said the action contravened the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act No.11 of 1993 (as amended) by decree No.25, 1996 and further amended in 2003 and 2012, and other items contained in the 2009 agreement between the federal government and the unions.
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups said the decision to sack the vice chancellors was wrong-headed and lacked legal procedure. In a protest letter to Buhari, the group demanded the reversal of the decision, including the replacement of the vice chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria with Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano. The coalition maintained that the sack amounted to the display of naked power by the executive. The protest letter to Buhari signed by CCSG president, Etuk Bassey Williams, and secretary-general, Ibrahim Abubakar, said the action contravened the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act No.11 of 1993 (as amended) by decree No.25, 1996 and further amended in 2003 and 2012, and other items contained in the 2009 agreement between the federal government and the unions.
The group maintained that four of the 12 new vice chancellors were from Kano University, an action they said was a clear violation of the federal character principle.
“While this does not come as a surprise owing to the influence of one of the special advisers to the Minister of Education in orchestrating the appointments of his friends and cronies without following due process, we are however concerned about the constitutional breach and the resultant litigation battle this action may cause, which in turn may generate unnecessary distractions to your focused administration,” the coalition wrote Buhari.
“While this does not come as a surprise owing to the influence of one of the special advisers to the Minister of Education in orchestrating the appointments of his friends and cronies without following due process, we are however concerned about the constitutional breach and the resultant litigation battle this action may cause, which in turn may generate unnecessary distractions to your focused administration,” the coalition wrote Buhari.
They continued, “We are compelled to call your attention owing to the illegality in the removal of Vice Chancellors of 13 Federal Universities, including the National Open University of Nigeria, and the hasty appointment of friends and cronies in place of those illegally removed from office. While we are not unmindful of the fact that you would have acted on the recommendation of the Minister of Education in approving their removal, it is pertinent to know that in the pursuit of ambition driven by unguided passion and greed, impunity becomes inevitable as the end, irrespective of the means, is all that matters and in this case, the removal of these Vice Chancellors is the outcome of an unguided passion and greed by the Minister of Education and his Special Adviser.
“The constitution is quite clear on the procedures to be followed in the appointment and disengagement of Vice Chancellors and none of these procedures was followed in the above case.
“The appointment of Vice Chancellors is a tenured appointment, which presupposes that every appointee is expected to serve the prescribed number of years as stipulated by the Acts governing the institutions.”
“The appointment of Vice Chancellors is a tenured appointment, which presupposes that every appointee is expected to serve the prescribed number of years as stipulated by the Acts governing the institutions.”
The organisation regretted that none of the Vice Chancellors was allowed to complete their tenures, saying they have all been removed without following due process. It said in the event that a vice chancellor was to be removed from office before the expiration of his tenure, it is the Board of the Governing Council that is empowered to recommend or effect the removal of the erring vice chancellor before the completion of his tenure.
CCSG stated, “In the above case, the minister already dissolved the Board of the Governing Council with the statutory powers to recommend or effect the removal of a vice chancellor from office thereby making the removal of these vice chancellors illegal, null and void.
CCSG stated, “In the above case, the minister already dissolved the Board of the Governing Council with the statutory powers to recommend or effect the removal of a vice chancellor from office thereby making the removal of these vice chancellors illegal, null and void.
“In appointing new vice chancellors or any public officer for that matter, it is an offence and a breach of the Federal Character principle for one third of the total appointees to come from a particular state. The action of the minister is greeted with sadness as it is considered a breach of the provisions of the University Amendment Act or legislation and to a large extent a gross violation of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which guarantees universities autonomy in Nigeria.”
Committee of Vice Chancellors
The Committee of Vice Chancellors, in its own reaction, contended that the tenures of the sacked vice chancellors had expired before their dismissal. But the committee rejected what it termed the abuse of the rules governing appointment of Vice Chancellors in the making of the new appointments. Secretary general of the committee, Professor Michael Faborode, stated, “For the nine federal universities established in 2011, except the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, the tenure of the Vice Chancellors expires on Monday February 15, hence it will be wrong to say they are being sacked. As far as the CVC is concerned there can be no justification for their being sacked, having laboured stridently to establish enduring foundations for the fledgling universities. Rather, we congratulate them for ending their tenure on a commendable note.”
The Committee of Vice Chancellors, in its own reaction, contended that the tenures of the sacked vice chancellors had expired before their dismissal. But the committee rejected what it termed the abuse of the rules governing appointment of Vice Chancellors in the making of the new appointments. Secretary general of the committee, Professor Michael Faborode, stated, “For the nine federal universities established in 2011, except the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, the tenure of the Vice Chancellors expires on Monday February 15, hence it will be wrong to say they are being sacked. As far as the CVC is concerned there can be no justification for their being sacked, having laboured stridently to establish enduring foundations for the fledgling universities. Rather, we congratulate them for ending their tenure on a commendable note.”
CVC said, “The date of the announcement, being Friday 12 February, conveyed a wrong message that the new VCs were expected to assume office on that date, thereby giving a wrong impression that the outgoing VCs were sacked. This is far from the true position. Indeed, from information available to us, 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.”
According to Faborode, “For the three new federal universities at Birnin Kebi, Gashua and Gusau, and that at Oye-Ekiti, whose VC was appointed after the pioneer VC, Prof C. Nebo, was named Minister, we are surprised that new Vice Chancellors are announced to have been appointed, as this does not conform to the extant practice in the university system. The VCs have inviolable tenure of five 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.”
Procedure
On the procedural rules relating to the appointment of vice chancellors, Faborode stated, “The power to appoint and remove a substantive Vice-Chancellor, and when the need arises, an acting Vice Chancellor, is vested in the Governing Councils. The National Open University has a council in place. We are now aware that the councils of the 12 Federal universities were dissolved unceremoniously a day earlier, and the appointment of new ones announced.
On the procedural rules relating to the appointment of vice chancellors, Faborode stated, “The power to appoint and remove a substantive Vice-Chancellor, and when the need arises, an acting Vice Chancellor, is vested in the Governing Councils. The National Open University has a council in place. We are now aware that the councils of the 12 Federal universities were dissolved unceremoniously a day earlier, and the appointment of new ones announced.
“We have said before that though a four-year tenure was prescribed for Governing Councils, the reality of change of government may necessitate re-constitution of such Councils if the government feels compelled to do so. In our candid and unbiased opinion, the minister should have allowed the new councils to be properly, fully constituted and sworn-in, and then take the statutory responsibility of setting the machinery in motion to appoint the substantive VCs for the universities.”
The CVC further held, “The subtle usurpation of the statutory function of Governing Councils by the minister in appointing the new VCs does not augur well for the integrity and good health of the Nigerian university system. Quite rightly, the president had expressed concern about the poor ranking of Nigerian universities, but incidentally, good governance is one of the crucial ingredients of attaining world-class university status. Hence, these steps represent a minus for our system. We plead that the steps be reversed in the interest of the good intention of Mr. President.”
Abuse
The appointment of the new vice chancellors exposed some derailment from the concept of university autonomy. Under statutory rules, the appointment of a vice chancellor begins with the end of the tenure of the incumbent occupant of the office. Thereafter, the Registrar in a paid advertisement advertises the vacancy. After the verification and scrutiny of interested candidates, the Governing Council screens the listed candidates and picks three that in its opinion are most qualified for the post. It is from this list of three candidates that the president (The Visitor) appoints one as vice chancellor.
In the sack of the 13 vice chancellors, none of these processes was followed.
The appointment of the new vice chancellors exposed some derailment from the concept of university autonomy. Under statutory rules, the appointment of a vice chancellor begins with the end of the tenure of the incumbent occupant of the office. Thereafter, the Registrar in a paid advertisement advertises the vacancy. After the verification and scrutiny of interested candidates, the Governing Council screens the listed candidates and picks three that in its opinion are most qualified for the post. It is from this list of three candidates that the president (The Visitor) appoints one as vice chancellor.
In the sack of the 13 vice chancellors, none of these processes was followed.
Protest
It is the perceived abuse of these processes prompted the protest by the CCSG last Wednesday. Addressing protesters at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, Williams who led the protesters, accused the Minister of Education nepotism. “He appointed six professors from one university, Bayero University, Kano, and he posted them to different tertiary institutions. Not only that, he appointed two professors from Katsina State, making it eight friends from just two states in the North,” Williams added.
He said, “We came here to tell him that Nigeria is not a sectional country; we are one indivisible Nigeria, nobody should separate us. Nobody should play sentiments with our economy and education sectors…
“The academic community has been here even before the minister was born; he cannot come and change it. Our appeal to him is to honourably reverse the decision. Let’s agree with him that what he did was wrong, that he did it in haste. We are here to tell him that he should, please, reserve that decision.”
It is the perceived abuse of these processes prompted the protest by the CCSG last Wednesday. Addressing protesters at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, Williams who led the protesters, accused the Minister of Education nepotism. “He appointed six professors from one university, Bayero University, Kano, and he posted them to different tertiary institutions. Not only that, he appointed two professors from Katsina State, making it eight friends from just two states in the North,” Williams added.
He said, “We came here to tell him that Nigeria is not a sectional country; we are one indivisible Nigeria, nobody should separate us. Nobody should play sentiments with our economy and education sectors…
“The academic community has been here even before the minister was born; he cannot come and change it. Our appeal to him is to honourably reverse the decision. Let’s agree with him that what he did was wrong, that he did it in haste. We are here to tell him that he should, please, reserve that decision.”
‘No Going Back’
Despite the objections, the minister said the ministry will not rescind the sack of the vice chancellors, which were mainly from the universities established by the immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Adamu told journalists on Thursday in Abuja, “Do you reverse government decision simply because somebody has criticised them? I don’t think that it is all government decisions that go down well with everyone in the country.
“The ministry has received some representation from people who feel aggrieved because their tenure has not expired and we are looking at it.”
Despite the objections, the minister said the ministry will not rescind the sack of the vice chancellors, which were mainly from the universities established by the immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Adamu told journalists on Thursday in Abuja, “Do you reverse government decision simply because somebody has criticised them? I don’t think that it is all government decisions that go down well with everyone in the country.
“The ministry has received some representation from people who feel aggrieved because their tenure has not expired and we are looking at it.”
On the litigations that may arise from the sack issue, the minister said, “They have already written to us and we are looking at their complaints, and we will reply in due course.”
History of Discord
The latest disagreements are a throwback to a chequered history of differences between the government and the university public. Since 1972, when the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, appointed a Vice Chancellor for the University of Lagos without recourse to the Governing Council, to the 1988 federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities crisis, the question of university autonomy has remained a contentious issue. During the Ibrahim Babangida military government, university autonomy was at its lowest. ASUU was proscribed and banned from unionism, while lecturers were sacked for “teaching what they were not paid to teach,” according to the government.
History of Discord
The latest disagreements are a throwback to a chequered history of differences between the government and the university public. Since 1972, when the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, appointed a Vice Chancellor for the University of Lagos without recourse to the Governing Council, to the 1988 federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities crisis, the question of university autonomy has remained a contentious issue. During the Ibrahim Babangida military government, university autonomy was at its lowest. ASUU was proscribed and banned from unionism, while lecturers were sacked for “teaching what they were not paid to teach,” according to the government.
With the return to democracy in 1999, ASUU/government relations did not fare any better. From the University of Ilorin crisis, to strikes bordering on condition of service and non-implementation of agreements, the two parties have continually been at loggerheads.
Reigniting the Fire
Though the situation tended to stabilise during the Umaru Yar’Adua/Jonathan era, the recent policies by the Buhari administration appear to have reignited the acrimonious relations. The first move by the federal government, perceived to be contrary to the aspirations of the tertiary institutions, was the dissolution of the boards. In dissolving boards of agencies, parastatals and institutions, there was no clear-cut statement that exempted the tertiary institutions. Many saw this as capable of pitching the government against the universities.
Though the situation tended to stabilise during the Umaru Yar’Adua/Jonathan era, the recent policies by the Buhari administration appear to have reignited the acrimonious relations. The first move by the federal government, perceived to be contrary to the aspirations of the tertiary institutions, was the dissolution of the boards. In dissolving boards of agencies, parastatals and institutions, there was no clear-cut statement that exempted the tertiary institutions. Many saw this as capable of pitching the government against the universities.
Added to the above, the government quickly nullified the upgrading of some Colleges of Education to full-fledged universities by the Jonathan administration. As if that was not enough, the Buhari government returned the University of Petroleum Studies, Effurum, Delta State, to its former status of a petroleum institute. With this, the signposts of discord between government and the universities became glaring.
The current controversy over the appointment of vice chancellors is coming very early in the life of the Buhari administration. It is not clear if the government would retrace its steps in time. What is certain is that the latest disagreement with the universities is avoidable.
0 comments :
Post a Comment