Staff and students’ unions of the University of Jos, Plateau State, on Monday protested the suspension of the selection process for a new Vice-Chancellor of the University.
The position became vacant following the expiration of the five-year tenure of Professor Sebastian Maimako.
The selection process was already ongoing before reports emerged in some sections of the media that there has been disquiet in several quarters over the procedure for the selection of a new vice Chancellor.
This development led to the exercise being suspended as an invitation was extended to all Council Members to appear before the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja unfailingly Wednesday, the 22nd day of April 2021.
The suspension letter which was communicated to all members of the council and the Senate selection board was signed by the Registrar/Secretary to Council, Monday Danjem.
Reacting to the development, the staff and students’ unions of the university staged a protest, saying that the selection process which has already gone far should not be interfered with for the sake of peace and tranquillity of the institution.
The speech prepared by the protesting staff and students was read by the Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) UniJos branch, Comrade Muplang Simon Kangpe.
“It is with a heavy heart that we are gathered this morning to address you on few issues concerning the University of Jos.
“Recall that news bulletin from some media houses and a publication captured on a National Daily (The Daily Trust) of Monday 12th April 2021 page 4 bothering on alleged non-compliance with extant laws of the University of Jos Act with respect to the selection process which will lead to the emergence of a substantive Vice-Chancellor.
“It is no longer news that sometime in February this year the University lost its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, the Late Prince Tony Momoh (of blessed memory) who transited to the great beyond after a protracted illness.
‘The University of Jos Act Cap U8 LFN 2004, Third Schedule, Article 1(7) states, “if the Pro-Chancellor is not present at a meeting of the Council, such other member of the Council present at the meeting as the Council may appoint in respect of that meeting shall be the Chairman at that meeting, and subject to Sec 4 of the Act and the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, the Council may regulate its own procedure.”
“Furthermore, the University of Jos Governing Council Standing Orders Article 9 further supports stating that, ‘if the Chairman is not present at a meeting of the Council, such other member of the Council present at the meeting as the Council may appoint in respect of that meeting shall be the Chairman at that meeting’.
“In compliance with the above provisions, subsisting Council Members through due process elected Dr (Mrs) Philomena Mutbam to preside over the Governing Council’s meeting for that day.
“It may interest you to note that the late Chairman of Council had initiated the process for the emergence of a new Vice-Chancellor via an advert on 23rd December 2020 to be concluded in April 2021 before the expiration of their tenure in May of the same year. This was followed by the constitution of a Search Team,” Kangpe said.
“We are not aware of any breach of the extant Laws regarding the selection process leading to the emergence of a new Vice-Chancellor for the University of Jos neither are we aware of any petition submitted by any candidate, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Unions, Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Character Commission.
“If at all there is any, the right thing should have been initiating a detailed investigation of the processes so far before any decision is arrived at.
“To our greatest dismay, the entire selection process was ordered to be suspended and an invitation was extended to all Council Members to appear before the almighty Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) unfailingly Wednesday the 22nd day of April 2021.
“We strongly feel it is orchestrated to truncate the laid down statutory processes duly followed before the invitation.
“May we also state that it is an outright disregard of the University Autonomy Act and a usurpation of responsibility of the University Governing Council.
“This singular act of suspending the selection process is creating unnecessary tension within the University Community and generating suspicion amongst the candidates thereby brewing conflict in a peaceful environment,” he added.
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