The Federal Government has instructed outgoing vice chancellors of federal universities to appoint their deputies as interim vice-chancellors.
This directive was communicated through a letter from the National Universities Commission to the outgoing vice-chancellors, dated May 28, 2024, in Abuja.
The letter, signed by NUC’s acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, indicated that this decision follows a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education.
The ministry informed the commission about the conclusion of the tenures of several vice-chancellors.
The letter specified that the appointment of interim vice-chancellors should be based on recommendations from the universities’ senates. Once the new governing councils are inaugurated, they will formally appoint the acting vice-chancellors.
The letter read, “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.”
