The Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission, has directed outgoing vice-chancellors in federal universities to nominate their deputies to serve as acting vice-chancellors temporarily.
This update was in a letter from the National Universities Commission to the outgoing ice-chancellors, dated May 28, 2024, in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the letter signed by the acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, said a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education prompted the move.
According to the letter, the ministry duly notified the commission of the end of the tenure of some vice-chancellors.
It said the appointment of the acting vice-chancellors should be made through the recommendations of the universities’ senates as the soon-to-be inaugurated governing councils would appoint acting vice-chancellors after their inauguration.
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 temporarily.
“The Governing Councils, after their inauguration, will appoint Acting Vice-Chancellors for a period not less than six months, during which they will commence 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.”
