The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Modibbo Adama University (MAU) in Yola has rejected the advertisement for the vice chancellor position, citing illegality.
At a press conference, Chairperson of the MAU chapter of ASUU, El-Maude Jibreel Gambo, stated that the union totally rejects the advertisement of the vacancy for the post of vice chancellor, as it violates established procedures and laws governing federal universities.
Gambo explained that under normal circumstances, the University Council advertises vacancies for principal officers, while under abnormal circumstances, the vice-chancellor or Senate can appoint an acting vice chancellor for a limited period.
However, the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, has mandated some university managements, including MAU Yola, to seek approval to advertise the position, which ASUU considers illegal.
The union argues that this action threatens the integrity, autonomy, and academic freedom of public universities, undermines transparency, equity, and merit-based selection of principal officers, and violates Section 3 (1&2) of the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1993.
ASUU also condemned the dissolution of governing councils of federal universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC) following a directive from President Bola Tinubu, urging the President, education minister, and stakeholders to reconstitute the governing councils without delay.
