UNIJOS SSANU, NANS accuse NUC of attempt to skew VC selection

Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSANU) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), University of Jos (UNIJOS), have alleged plans by the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission (NUC) to select a stooge as Vice Chancellor against the popular wish of the university community and other stakeholders.

During a protest yesterday, the associations expressed anger with the action of the NUC to sideline the due process of selecting the VC by transferring the search team/selection board to Abuja, saying that it was against the act that set up the university.

The students of the institution could not write their examination yesterday, as the gates were under lock and key, forcing the lecturers to postpone the affected papers.

Addressing a press conference shortly after the protest, the SSANU Secretary, UNIJOS Branch, Muplang Kangpe, said the selection process had been skewed to favour a particular candidate.

Kangpe said: “It is no longer news that sometime in February this year, the university lost its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Tony Momoh, 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.”

He said that complying with the above provisions, subsisting council members, through due process, elected Dr. Philomena Mutbam to preside over the council’s meeting for that day.

He called on the Visitor to the University to call the attention of the Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Abubakar Abdulrasheed, to desist from interfering with the activities of the University Governing Council, appointed to oversee the activities of the institution on behalf of the Visitor.

He also urged the Minister of Education to direct the conclusion of the selection process for the emergence of a new VC.