Anxiety In UI As Council Likely To Extend Tenure Of Acting VC Contrary To Law

There is anxiety again brewing at the University of Ibadan, following a move to extend the tenure of the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Adebola Ekanola by the Council.

Independent findings by The Precision NG, revealed that the council in a letter to the senate of the institution, stated that the position of the Acting VC, which ends on 31 May, 2021, cannot remain vacant.

“Given the circumstance, a vacuum cannot be created in the office of the Vice Chancellor and CEO of the University in that if the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor cannot be concluded before 31 May, 2021, the position of the Ag. Vice Chancellor shall lapse,” the letter read in part.

A meeting is allegedly scheduled for Monday, May 17, 2021 to deliberate on the matter.

But the law regarding the tenure of principal officers in Nigerian Universities stated otherwise.

A copy of the Universities Amendment Act 2013, obtained by The Precision frowned at the extension of the tenure of an Acting VC, which had been statutorily put at 6 months.

Section 5, subsection 14 of the act read:

“An acting Vice-Chancellor in all circumstances shall not be in office for more than 6 months”. 

A source confirmed that under normal circumstances a new Acting VC should be appointed, so far, a substantive one cannot be appointed before May 31, 2021, when the present Acting VC would leave. 

Prof. Ekanola, who is the Acting VC had been in charge since November 30, 2020.

The source said:

“A meeting is being planned for Monday to consider elongation of tenure which is clearly against the law (See document below).

“There must not be a vacuum and so what should be done?

“Law allows appointment by the senate of another qualified person as acting VC and NOT extension of tenure of incumbent.

 “Already, lobbying for and against had begun in UI ahead of the Council meeting on Monday."

The source also alleged that the University is in a big financial mess (debts) which is being investigated secretly by the anti-graft agencies due to maladministration of previous administration. (See document below).

“This has led to breakdown of infrastructure on campus with erratic power supply and lack of water supply in the past two or three months except few borehole sunk as well as bad roads on the campus,” the source alleged.

When contacted, UI’s Director of Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, denied the knowledge of the Monday meeting aimed at extending the tenure of the outgoing Acting VC.

He said, the Council members are at present on an official trip outside Ibadan, Oyo state and won’t be back until Monday.