President Muhammadu Buhari has issued a warning to the governing council and the management of the University of Ibadan against manipulating the process of the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.
The president, who stated this on Tuesday during the 72nd foundation day and convocation ceremony of the University.
President Buhari’s speech was read by the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abubakar Rasheed
He said his administration would not hesitate to dissolve or suspend any council or its leadership found wanting in observing due process.
“Government is determined to continue to fight corruption at all levels, including in our tertiary institutions. It is not useful to talk of adequate funding of education, if our universities are mired in crisis, confusion, fraud and lack of institutional vision…Government has set in motion several mechanisms to monitor the selection process with a view to taking appropriate measures to ensure that the processes are conducted in open, fair and transparent manner and that all violators are properly sanctioned.
“Government will not hesitate to dissolve or suspend all erring governing councils or university managements found to have fallen short of the standard expected of them as leaders of citadels of learning in our country. Pro-Chancellors, in their dual role as chairpersons of governing councils and chairpersons of the five-person selection committee for the appointment of vice-chancellors, must be prepared to bear full responsibility for the management or mismanagement of the process.”
Crisis continue to rock the University of Ibadan over the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.
Few weeks ago, the university’s governing council chairperson, Joshua Waklek, suspended the process of announcing new VC.
Mr. Waklek’s decision followed a mass protest by the non-academic staff of the university under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee (JAC).
