FG directs outgoing VCs to appoint deputies as acting administrators

By Mariam Abeeb

The Federal Government has directed outgoing vice chancellors in federal universities to nominate their deputies to temporarily serve as acting vice chancellors.
This is contained in a letter conveyed by the National Universities Commission, NUC, to the outgoing vice chancellors, dated May 28, 2024 in Abuja.
The letter signed by the acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, said the move was prompted by a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to the letter, the ministry duly notified the commission on the end of tenure of some vice chancellors.
It said the appointment of the acting vice chancellors should be done 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 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.”