UNIJOS lecturers urge Reps committee to investigate all federal universities

Opeyemi Adelere

Lecturers at the University of Jos have called on members of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character to investigate all federal universities in the interest of justice.

This request was made following a viral video of dialogue between the management of the university and the committee. According to the video, the Committee had practised nepotism in the distribution of staff of the university to the advantage of the North Central Zone and Plateau State in particular.

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Prof. Noel Wannang, speaking on behalf of the group, said it was absurd for the Committee to reduce the appointment of the university management under the Governing Council to a “Plateau affair.” He further enlightened the committee and the general public on the Structure of University Management, among others.

It said, “The Governing Council is the appropriate organ responsible for appointments, employment, and promotion of staff. Such appointments with regards to Principal Officers of the University are usually well advertised and candidates are given equal opportunities by the Council.

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“The Council executes these functions on behalf of the Visitor, who is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

However, the lecturers gave the composition of the current management team of the University of Jos as follows; Prof. Sebastian Seddi Maimako, Vice-Chancellor from Plateau, Prof. Ishaya Tanko DVC (Academic) Kebbi, Prof. Greg Ejikeme (Administration) Abia, Mr. Philip F. Umbugala, Bursar Nasarawa, Dr. Thomas A. Adigun (Librarian) Ogun, and Mr. Monday Danjem (Registrar) Plateau.

For the avoidance of doubt, the lecturers said, “It is worthy to note that, since the inception of the University- 45 years ago, only six Plateau State indigenes have been appointed Vice-Chancellors, and out of 24 Deputy Vice-Chancellors, none had ever been from Plateau State.
“Similarly, in the 45-year history of the University, no Plateau indigene has ever been appointed Librarian; and only two were appointed Bursars”, it explained.

“Note also that the constitution of the Governing Council of any University by the President is objective, respects diversity and selects men and women of impeccable character, covering all shades of interests. In this regard, none of the Chairman of Council is ever appointed from the catchment area of the University.

“It is, therefore, absurd for the Committee to reduce the appointment of the University Management under the Council to a Plateau affair”, the group maintained.
They further stated that, while it was not against the House Committee carrying out its oversight functions, but singling out the University of Jos in the manner it did, “suggests a premeditated intention, this we reject in its entirety.

“For such an exercise to be valid and objective, it should cut across all Federal Universities in Nigeria.”

However, the Don said, they were aware of the fact that the Vice-chancellor, Registrar and Librarian of the Federal University, Dutsinma in Katsina State were all from Katsina State, which happens to be the home state of the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character.

“Similarly, in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State (Incidentally, where Honourable Samaila Suleiman comes from), the Vice-Chancellor who has just gone on terminal leave, the DVC Administration, the Bursar and the Librarian are all from Kano State.

“Also, in the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State (where the deputy Chairman of the Committee comes from), all principal officers are from the South-West zone of the Country.
“These three classic examples typify what is obtainable in most Federal Universities across the country, unlike the balanced appointments practised in the University of Jos”, the group further explained.