Management of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU, Bauchi has denied contravening any law in the process of filling the soon-to-be vacant office of the Vice Chancellor of the University.
The management insisted that due process was duly and strictly followed in the vacancy advertisement.
Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU, Bauchi faulted the University management for violating the varsity’s law guiding the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.
The union also accused the management of allowing certain principal officers to remain in acting positions beyond the stipulated six-month period, which they deemed illegal.
The allegations were made yesterday at a press conference held at the Yelwa Campus on Monday titled ‘The Advertisement of Vacancy for the Post of Vice Chancellor in ATBU Bauchi: An Illegality.’
Reacting to the accusation on Tuesday in an interview with OsunDailyNG, the Directorate of Information of the University, Zailani Bappa stated that the University Management did not violate any law.
“Yes, currently there’s no Governing Council in place. In its absence, the Minister of Education assumes the Council’s duties until a new Council is established,” he stated.
“For instance, ASUU itself has remained relatively silent on various issues during this period without a Council, focusing mainly on Vice-Chancellor appointments as their primary concern.”
He further explained, “In the absence of the Council, promotions were still carried out across all universities. Even during the recent Convocation, all communication regarding the event was coordinated through the Minister of Education, despite the convocation being under the jurisdiction of the Chancellor.”
Zailani Bappa added that, “It’s important to understand that while the Council is responsible for staff employment, promotion, and discipline, in its absence, these responsibilities fall to the Minister of Education.”
Addressing concerns about acting appointments, he clarified, “Yes, there may be acting officers appointed, but after six months, if no substantive officer is appointed, the acting appointment can be renewed for another six months.”
The Director of Information further said, “All these procedures are done in the absence of the Governing Council, it can be started and concluded with the Minister of Education supervising the process on behalf of the Federal Government, don’t forget that the Universities belong to the Federal Government and it can reconstitute the Council at any time it deems fit and necessary.”
“Because of that, the advertisement that was placed was done in order in accordance with the law because, 6 months before the expiration of the tenure of the Vice Chancellor, the announcement must be published, that is the law,” he added.
