The Academic Staff Union
of Research and Allied Institute (ASURI) has called for the reflection of “federal character” in the appointment of the Registrar of National Examination Council (NECO).
This was contained in a protest letter NECO chapter of ASURI, and made available to The Tide, recently.
The protest letter, which was signed by its chairman, Comrade Agwu Arisa, stated that, “for the avoidance of doubt, may we remind you that since the inception of our institution (herein after referred to simply as NECO), there has been two registrars/chief executive officers to wit: Professor Dibu Ojerinde, who was the pioneer registrar, from the South West region of Nigeria, and after serving his full term, the out-going registrar, Professor Promise Okpala, from the South East region of Nigeria was thereafter appointed, who has now not only served out his term, but enjoyed a period of extension of tenure without due process being compiled with”.
The letter further emphasised that in view of the fact that the passed two registrars were from the Southern part of Nigeria, the next registrar should come from the North.
“In the present circumstances, and bearing the principles of federal character it would only be fair and reasonable to expect that the next appointed (person) to the office of registrar should come from the Northern zone of the country”, the letter stated.
The protest letter is sequel to the recent appointment of Professor Monday Tommy Joshua as the new registrar and chief executive officer of NECO.
It buttressed the stand of the NECO chapter of ASURI by noting that Professor Joshua is not only from the North, but that “he was never recommended by Honorable Minister (of Education) to the president for such appointment.