Illegality must not stand – CSOs ask 13 VCs appointed by Buhari to resign

Some civil society organisations have advised the 13 Vice Chancellors of federal universities “wrongly appointed by the Federal Government” last February to resign.

The coalition said its demand follows President Muhammadu Buhari’s apology over the dissolution of the governing councils of the affected universities, which preceded the sack of the former Vice Chancellors and the appointment of new ones.

A statement at the weekend signed by National Convener of the Concerned Citizens for Educational Development, CCED, Mr Solomon Adodo and Executive Director, Friends in the Gap Advocacy Initiative, FGAI, George Oji, commended Professor Auwal Yadudu, who refused to accept the offer of appointment as Vice Chancellor of the University of Birnin Kebbi for not following due process.

 

Similarly, the CSOs hailed Professor Andrew Haruna, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State, for applying to the University of Jos as one of the candidates for the office of the Vice Chancellor.

The coalition urged the VCs appointed “without undergoing the spelt out procedures to honourably tender their resignation letters as Professor Haruna did.

“The fact that Professor Haruna could subject himself to the proper screening and interview process of the University of Jos Governing Council negates the premise on which he and the other 12 appointed Vice Chancellors were foisted on their respective universities in the first instance.”

The group restated the position of the law, which provides that the appointment of Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities is the sole affair of each university without undue interference from the Visitor (Mr. President).