NUC Issues Directive Amidst VC Selection Crisis In UI

Authorities of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) have called for the restart of the selection process for the appointment of a new vice-chancellor for the University of Ibadan.

This was revealed through a letter issued by the NUC. The letter dated November 23, 2020,  was also signed by Chris Maiyaki, Deputy Executive Secretary (General Administration) on behalf of the Executive Secretary, and was addressed to Joshua Waklek, the Pro-Chancellor, University of Ibadan.

As contained in the letter, reads: “I write at the behest of the Executive Secretary, to convey and implore the Governing Council to strictly comply with the Ministerial response/directive on the lingering crisis at the University of Ibadan thus:

“The Governing Council is to immediately reconvene to nominate another Member of Council, who is not a member of Senate to serve on the Selection Committee, in place of the withdrawn member representing the Federal Ministry of Education.

“The Governing Council is to review the entire processes leading to the impasse in the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor, including repeating the online selection of the representatives of Senate; the Vice-Chancellor should recuse himself from the envisaged Senate meeting.

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“The Governing Council should re-invite all the eighteen (18) applicants who had initially satisfied the requirements outlined in the advertisement for the position of the Vice-Chancellor; and

“The final selection process must be conducted in full compliance with laid down procedures in an open and transparent manner, and in total compliance with the provisions of the Universities Miscellaneous Act (2007).

“Consequently, the Governing Council under the leadership of the Pro chancellor is to ensure the full and immediate implementation of the succeeding steps outlined in the attached directive, while updating the Honourable Minister of Education, accordingly.”

The directive appears to have been precipitated by the recent ruckus over the selection of a new Vice-Chancellor to take over from the outgoing Abel Idowu Olayinka.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who had earlier received several petitions and counter-accusation from members of the university has now reacted to the university’s internal crisis by issuing the directive as a response in resolving the crisis.