Babatunji Wusu –
The federal government has instructed departing vice chancellors of federal universities to designate their deputies, who will act as acting vice chancellors for a temporary period of time based on the Senates’ proposal.
On Wednesday, May 28, 2024, in Abuja, the National Universities Commission (NUC) sent a letter to the departing vice chancellors detailing the most recent events.
The action was spurred by a direction from the Federal Ministry of Education, according to a letter signed by Chris Maiyaki, the acting Executive Secretary of the NUC.
In the letter, it was stated that the governing councils will designate acting vice chancellors upon their inauguration, and the ministry had duly informed the commission of the expiration of some vice chancellors’ terms.
The letter reads: “I write, further to previous communication Ref. No. NUC/ES/138/Vol. 65/88 and dated May 27, 2024, to convey the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education, vide its letter Ref. No. FME/TE/CỰ/130/T6/458 and dated May 28, 2024.
“To the effect that Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities, who are rounding up their tenures, are to nominate, through the recommendation of their Senates, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor that will oversee the office of the Vice-Chancellor in a temporary capacity.
“The Governing Councils, after their inauguration, will appoint Acting Vice-Chancellors for a period not less than six months, during which they will commence the process of appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellors.
“This circular takes pre-eminence over our earlier communication on the same subject.
“Please accept the assurances of my highest considerations, always.”