The Federal Government has directed outgoing vice chancellors of federal universities to nominate their deputies to temporarily serve as acting vice chancellors.
This directive was communicated in a letter from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to the outgoing vice chancellors, dated May 28, 2024, and conveyed in Abuja on Wednesday.
The letter, signed by the acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, stated that the directive originated from the Federal Ministry of Education, which had notified the commission about the impending end of tenure for several vice chancellors.
The letter specified that the nomination of acting vice chancellors should be done through recommendations from the universities’ senates. The newly inaugurated governing councils will then 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.”
