Avoid Political Interference in VC Recruitment, UNN alumni urge governing council

Alumni of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), have called on the institution’s Governing Council to follow the traditional transition timetable in appointing a new Vice-Chancellor, warning against political meddling that could disrupt the university’s stability.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Prof. Barnabas Iliya, representing concerned northern alumni, stressed the importance of adhering to laid-down procedures to ensure a seamless and crisis-free transition.

He noted that the name of the successful candidate should emerge by February 17, with the transition process concluding in June 2025.
Drawing from past disruptions in similar appointments at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Yakubu Gowon University, Iliya urged the Federal Ministry of Education to collaborate with UNN’s Governing Council to preserve the university’s academic integrity.

“The interference of political actors in university governance undermines academic excellence,” Iliya warned, adding that UNN must avoid the errors that derailed its progress after the civil war.

He appealed for meticulous adherence to tradition to ensure the institution remains a beacon of learning and nation-building.
He said he was compelled to sound the note of caution to ensure that the recrimination that trailed similar exercises in Nnamdi Azikiwe University of Awka and Yakubu Gowon University, formerly University of Abuja, does not rear its head in UNN.

Prof. Iliya argued that the chequered history of the prestigious university makes it imperative that the authorities should proceed with utmost decorum and attention to laid-down procedures for the traditional transition and handover month.

“The transition process begins in March, culminating in the actual handover around June; that is a four-month period of seamless transition that would equip the new VC with first-hand knowledge of challenges, prospects, and plans of the institution,” Iliya added.

Explaining further, he observed that the recent events in Awka and Abuja give the impression that politicians have descended on the ivory tower for reasons that do not align with academic excellence and nation-building.

Pleading that UNN should be spared the ongoing crises of recruitment of Vice-Chancellors, the Plateau State-born alumnus urged the Federal Ministry of Education to synergize with the university’s governing council to stick to plans and processes leading to the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor who will take over in June 2025.

“Going by the unfinished process in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where an acting VC has been appointed, good reason demands that the process in Nsukka should also be meticulous to ensure adherence to laid-down stipulations.

“We also make this plea based on our findings that the appointment of chairmen of governing councils of tertiary institutions was mired in controversies, which led Mr. President to cancel the initial list and order fresh nominations.

“It is, therefore, apposite to conclude that the interest of highly placed politicians has been at the root of the unusual squabbling in the appointment of university Vice-Chancellors. In order, therefore, to ensure that sanity and the finest tradition of academic excellence are observed in the appointment of a substantive VC for our alma mater, the process should proceed according to extant tradition,” Iliya remarked.

Lamenting the negative impacts of allowing hurried transitions in UNN, Iliya recalled how a similar approach was adopted shortly after the end of the civil war, when the Administrator of East Central State, Mr. Ukpabi Asika, was prevailed upon to remove Prof. Eni Njoku as UNN VC.

Prof. Iliya stated: “When the question of whether to dismantle UNN or reopen it for academic activities was resolved, Prof. Vincent Ike was appointed as Sole Administrator, and he ran the university efficiently, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, which helped us to graduate shortly after Prof. Herbert Kodilinye mounted the saddle as substantive VC.

“We believe that the time has come for a substantial overhaul of the administrative systems in federal universities to conform with current realities. Governance of the citadels of learning should be insulated from the interference of partisan political actors. They should proceed with caution to achieve a crisis-free transition.”