The Unlawful Sacking Of VCs

Stakeholders in the academia recently pro
tested the unlawful sacking of Vice Chan
cellors of some federal universities and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reinstate the university administrators in the interest of the university system in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellors were removed along with their Governing Councils following a blanket order by the present Federal Government for all boards to be dissolved after assuming office.  Consequently, the Federal Government handpicked Vice-Chancellors for 13 universities against the standing rules of the varsity system.
Of course, there were protests and allegations of impropriety before President Buhari apologised for the apparent gaffe and restored the boards of the universities. But the Vice-Chancellors affected in the same misadventure were not restored and the handpicked VCs have continued to operate illegally.
This is precisely why a coalition of civil society groups led by Etuk Bassey has raised the red flag.  They maintained that the termination of the appointment of Vice-Chancellors by executive fiat was a clear violation of provisions of the University Miscellaneous Provisions Act No 11 of 1993.
The groups were also worried over the choice and composition of the 13 Acting Vice-Chancellors that did not reflect the Federal Character Principle. According to them, of the 13, six were from the North-West, three from North-Central, two from North-East and one each from South-East and South-South.  They also had a few other things to complain about.
The Tide is of the view that their demands are simple and just.  We think that the Federal Government should have no problem granting their request and making it up to the Vice-Chancellors in anyway they deem fit.  At the time the order that brought about this distortion was given, the administration was just taking over and needed to understand the system.  It therefore can be excused.
But it cannot be excused if it fails to correct that error now.  The issues raised are clear infringements on the laws of the land and the rights of the Vice-Chancellors, who were duly installed and for a specific tenure.  Indeed, the disregard for Federal Character Principle in picking persons to manage the universities cannot be imagined.
We are particularly interested in this matter because of the environment where this apparent miscarriage of executive power is finding expression.  All over the world, universities uphold practices that are closest to perfection.  This may not be unconnected to the fact that they are building young and impressionable minds that should not see corruption.
On the other hand, the tertiary educational system is universal, indeed, universities across the globe need to respect the products, transcripts and standards of our universities.  The seeming celebration of impunity and abuse of power, even in the Ivory Tower can be very costly for our educational system and students.  On no account should politics be brought into the due management of the academia.
While we commend the coalition for bringing up this matter and to help save Nigeria and Nigerians of this embarrassment, we hope that the Federal Government will graciously revisit the sacking of the incumbent Vice-Chancellors and the appointment of Acting Vice-Chancellors and return the entire process to the Governing Councils to restart the system for good.
We think that action on this matter should be now in order to avoid any crisis that might arise in our universities over these issues.  There are too many contending issues in the system and these should not give the fillip that ignites any conflict.  A stitch in time saves nine.
On the other hand, the university system in Nigeria must rise up to its billing to avoid interferences from outside. If the Governing Councils begin to manipulate rules in their institutions, they will necessarily open themselves to external corrective influences, which sometimes might infringe on the tradition of the academia.
It is on record that some, indeed, eight of the Vice-Chancellors sacked had actually served out their tenures, but were still in office.  Similarly, some of the Vice-Chancellors so affected were also appointed without due process, neither were their appointments gazetted.  These are things that should never be associated with any university worth its name.
Under such circumstance, we expect the Visitor of the institution to take steps that will whip erring officials back in line and not to hijack the system.  This is crude, unlawful and retrogressive.  Those in government must help in making the universities the model that the nation can copy from.
Finally, it should be accepted by all that VCs can only take office only when the Governing Councils follow process and recommend persons, out of which the Visitor will choose one for tenure.  The Federal Government should remove the Acting VCs with immediate effect and restore the incumbents to close out nicely.