The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University ATBU, Bauchi, has accused the institution’s management of violating the 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 deem as illegal.
The allegations were made during a press conference held at the university’s Yelwa campus on Monday.
The chairperson of ATBU’s ASUU, Ibrahim Inuwa, raised concerns regarding the advertisement of the vice chancellor vacancy at ATBU Bauchi, published in the Leadership Weekend newspaper on January 13, 2024.
According to him, ASUU opposed the perceived illegality which it claimed contradicts relevant laws governing the university.
He pointed out that the advertisement, signed by the acting registrar, Hajiya Aisha Idris, attributed the initiative to the Minister of Education.
Furthermore, Ibrahim expressed concern over the misapplication of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993, and the ATBU Bauchi Conditions of Service.
He explained that neither the Minister of Education nor the registrar holds the authority to advertise the vice chancellor vacancy, as stated in the relevant laws.
Highlighting specific provisions within the act and the university’s conditions of service, Ibrahim underscored the role of the university council in advertising such vacancies.
He said that except in some circumstances, the law allows the university senate to appoint an acting vice chancellor for a maximum of six months.
The ASUU chairperson, who expressed concern over the management’s actions, also called on the President and the Minister of Education to intervene and uphold the integrity of the university’s governance.
He stated that ASUU finds the move very disturbing and unbecoming of the management of ATBU Bauchi in using the absence of the council to perpetuate illegality even in the face of unambiguous provisions of the laws.
Citing another act of illegality, he said the university management disregarded all extant laws and the university council’s directives that all principal officers who are in acting capacity should not exceed six months in that capacity, and should be replaced by the next most senior officer in the unit if the vacancy is not yet properly filled.
“Nonetheless, the University Management violated this directive by allowing the current acting registrar and other officers to be holding office for more than one year and counting. The registrar, who is the supposed custodian of the university laws is unfortunately accommodating illegality,” he declared.
“Another display of impunity by the university management is the appointment of an acting bursar who in the last Presidential Visitation Panel white paper’s report was indicted for refusing to honour the invitation of the panel.”
He added: “In fact, the University Management knowing fully well that there is no council in place went ahead to sign contracts and illegally employ staff into the university even when it knows that such powers solely rests with the university council.
“ASUU is so worried that a substantive Vice Chancellor who derives his powers from the laws establishing public universities will stoop so low to violate the laws and allow nepotism and impunity to guide his judgement.”
