President Buhari warns against violating Vice Chancellor selecting processes, vows to sanction violators
President Muhammadu Buhari has announced that persons found violating the processes of selecting Vice Chancellors for federal universities will be sanctioned.
The President stated this at the 72nd Foundation Day and convocation ceremonies of the University of Ibadan on Tuesday, represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.
It was reported last week that President Buhari had reinstated Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos. He added that the earlier removal had not followed due process.
Professor Ogundipe was earlier sacked by the school’s governing council in August 2020, which accused him of “serious acts of wrongdoings, gross misconduct, financial recklessness and abuse of office.”
The President said on Tuesday that the FG was worried about the disrespect of due process in the VC selection phases in universities.
“Let me add that government is particularly worried about the avalanche of petitions, many bordering on serious allegations of bribery and corruption as well as disrespect for due process, in the course of selecting new Vice-Chancellors in some of our federal universities.
“Government has set in motion several mechanisms to ensure that the processes are conducted in an open, fair and transparent manner and to ensure that all violators are properly sanctioned,” he said.
On the ASUU strike, the President urged lecturers to return to the classrooms, as the current strike has gone too long.
“We recognise the rights of workers to express their grievances through lawful actions, including strikes,” he said.
“However, there is a reciprocal obligation on the part of workers and unions to ensure the survival and sustainability of their places of employment.
“Strike tends to compound the problems in the education sector. The current strike by university teachers has gone on for too long and caused enough devastation to the lives of students and the universities alike.
“I urge university teachers to return to their classrooms and seek further accommodation with government from the productive ambience of their campuses,” the President added.
