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Protest in UNIJOS as NUC suspends VC appointment

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has suspended the ongoing selection process by the Governing Council of the University of Jos that will lead to the appointment of a new vice-chancellor for the institution.

The suspension was revealed in a letter by the Registrar of the University, Monday Damjam to the council members of the institution.

The outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Seddi Maimako single five-year tenure would expire in June this year. Eighteen professors have declared interest to replace the outgoing principal officer of the university.

It was reported that a five member interview panel already constituted to screen the contestants had finished their job before they were asked to stop further action on the matter.

The Registrar of the university who is also secretary of the council in a letter dated April 16, 2021 had suspended further action as regards the selection of a new Vice Chancellor.

The letter, which was copied to all the seven members of Joint Council and Senate Selection Board, read in part, “I wish to inform you that the Executive Secretary of the of the National Universities Commission has directed that the process for the appointment of a new vice-chancellor for the University of Jos be suspended till further notice”.

“Consequently, you are by this letter informed that the meeting of the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board for the appointment of a new vice -chancellor for the university earlier scheduled for April 20-22, 2021 has been suspended till further notice.”

A member of the Governing Council said the council members have been invited to Abuja for a meeting.

According to him, “We got the letter to suspend further action on the VC selection and we have been asked to proceed to Abuja for a meeting with the NUC over the matter. We don’t know what is happening.”

They accused the NUC of interference in the appointment of a new VC for the university and said they will resist any imposition of a new leadership for the institution.

The Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, UNIJOS Branch, Muplang Simon Kangpe, who addressed a press conference, noted that the process of selecting a new VC for the university had commenced without any hitch and wondered why the NUC would stop the process midway.

According to the SSANU Secretary “We are not aware of any breach of the extant laws regarding the selection process leading to the emergence of a new vice-chancellor”.

“There was no petition submitted by any candidate, civil society, Federal Ministry of Education and Federal Characters Commission and if any, the right thing should have been initiating a detailed investigation of the processes before any decision is arrived at.”

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