Buhari dismisses varsity VCs

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the 12 Federal Universities established by the Jonathan administration now have new vice chancellors following the abrupt removal of the incumbents by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The president also approved the reconstitution of the universities’ governing councils.

No reason was given for the action, which drew the instant anger of some Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s).

The CSO’s claimed that the Governing Council of NOUN of which Professor Vincent Tenebe was a member is the only body empowered to remove him.

Replacing Tenebe is Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu, who until now was of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano.

Professor Auwal Yadudu, who served as Special Adviser on Legal Matters to the late military head of state, General Sani Abacha is the new Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Birnin Kebbi.

He was until now of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano.

A former head of the Department of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Kayode Soremekun is the new Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, while Prof. Fatima Batoul Muktar of the Department of Biology, North West University, Kano is the VC of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State.

The rest are:

- Prof. Haruna Abdu Kaita, Federal University, Dutsin Ma, Katsina State;

- Prof. Andrew Haruna, Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State;

- Prof. Magaji Garba, Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State;

- Prof. Alhassan Mohammed Gani, Federal University, Kashere , Gombe State;

- Prof. Muhammad Sanusi Liman, Federal University, Lafia;

- Prof. Angela Freeman Miri, Federal University, Lokoja;

- Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Federal University, Ndifu-Alike, Ebonyi State;

- Prof. Seth Accra Jaja, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Education Minister Adamu Adamu merely said in a statement yesterday that: “The President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces  and Visitor to all federal universities, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the appointment of new vice chancellors for the 12 under-listed Federal Universities and the National open University of Nigeria with effect from Friday, February 12, 2016.”

The Ministry in a separate notice said the president had approved the reconstitution of the governing councils of the new 12 Federal Universities with immediate effect.

The chairmen of the new councils are scheduled to meet with the minister tomorrow in Abuja.

However, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups protested the VCs’ sack in a letter to President Buhari.

The group 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 respectively and other agreements as contained in the 2009 FGN staff union agreement.

The petitioners claimed that four out of the 12 new VCs are from Bayero University, Kano alone, which in their view violates the federal character principle.

They said: “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.”

“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.”