By Olawale Lamina
Rising from its congress meeting held at the Permanent Site of the institution on Thursday, the University of Abuja branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU declared an indefinite strike over the state of affairs surrounding the union, especially the processes involving the appointment on a new Vice Chancellor.
Members of ASUU, UniAbuja chapter Members have been at war with the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’allah and the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman over the processes for the appointment of a new VC.
An advertorial published in a national daily on March 15, 2024, sought a replacement for Na’Allah. But, the approach was rejected by ASUU members in a conference, saying the move was “illegal,” and alleging that the decision did not emanate from the governing council of the institution.
Chairman of the UniAbuja ASUU, Sylvanus Ugoh, pointed out that the Universities Miscellaneous Provision Act 1993 as amended; 2003 and 2012 (Section 3, subsections 1 and 2) empowers only the governing council to advertise the VC’s seat when declared vacant. He stated that no organ or individual is legally vested with the power to initiate the procedure of appointing a successive VC, while referring to an advert placed for the position of a Vice-Chancellor on Friday 15th March 2024.
More details are expected to emerge as the intrigues continue to unfold.
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