The Federal Government has directed outgoing Vice-Chancellors (VCs) in federal universities to nominate their deputies to temporarily serve as acting Vice-Chancellors.

The government gave the directive in a letter dated May 28, 2024, and conveyed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to the outgoing Vice-Chancellors on Wednesday, May 29.

The letter signed by the acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, said the move was prompted by a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the letter, the ministry duly notified the commission on the end of tenure of some Vice-Chancellors.

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It said the appointment of the acting Vice-Chancellors should be done through the recommendations of the universities’ Senates as the soon-to-be inaugurated governing councils would appoint acting VCs after their inauguration.

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.”

The Star