Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) University of Jos chapter has appealed to the visitor of the university, President Muhammadu Buhari, to warn the Executive Secretary, National University Commission (NUC) Prof. Abubakar Abdulrasheed, to stay clear of the selection process of a new vice chancellor of the institution.
The association accused NUC executive secretary of planning to truncate the selection process of the next vice chancellor of the University of Jos.
SSANU Secretary, Comrade Muplang Simon Kangpe, made the appeal in a press release issued in Jos, Plateau State at the permanent site of the university on Monday.
“The Visitor to the University should as a matter of urgency call the attention of Professor Abubakar Abdulrasheed the Executive Secretary NUC to desist from interfering with the activities of the University Governing Council who were appointed to oversee the activities of the University on behalf of the Visitor,” the statement said.
It also warned further that “it must be noted therefore, that any deviation from the above mentioned would have the Executive Secretary NUC held responsible for any breach of peace in the University,” it stressed.
Similarly, SSANU appealed to the Minister of Education, Prof. Adamu Adamu, to immediately direct the conclusion of the selection process for the emergence of a new Vice Chancellor which is selected for this Wednesday till Friday.
The association frowned at the invitation of the governing council by the NUC executive secretary to appear before him within the same days earlier meant to select a new vice chancellor.
“To our greatest dismay, the entire selection process was ordered to be suspended and invitation was extended to all Council Members to appear before the almighty Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) unfailingly Wednesday the 22nd day of April 2021. This, we strongly feel is orchestrated to truncate the laid down statutory processes duly followed before the invitation,” it maintained.
It however, sued for peace saying, “we call on all members of the of the University community to remain calm but resolute that due process must be followed as the only alternative for peaceful transition.”
Records indicate that 18 professors both within and outside the University of Jos are jostling to occupy the office of the Vice Chancellor.
It will be recalled that the five year single term tenure of office of the Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof Sabestine Maimako, will officially end in June, 2021, hence the need to select his successor two months before the end of his tenure, so that a vacuum won’t be created.
