The National Universities Commission (NUC) has asked the university’s Governing Council to appoint a neutral member as the acting VC.
Recall that there had been similar directive from the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, requesting the university’s Governing Council to restart the selection process of the next VC following the crisis the process had generated.
The Governing Council had also followed the directive by scheduling a meeting on Monday to decide on an acting VC and also deliberate on the time table for the new selection process.
In a letter written by the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Prof Abubakar Rasheed to the university’s Pro-Chancellor on Friday, November 27th, the Governing Council has also been directed to shift the time of its scheduled meeting.
“The Governing Council of the University of Ibadan is hereby directed to shift its meeting earlier scheduled for 10.00am. on Monday, 30th November to discuss the issue of appointment of a new vice-chancellor to later in the afternoon on the same day,” the letter stated.
The Commission further requested the university Senate to “convene a special meeting for the purpose of selecting one of its members who is not a candidate in the ongoing process for the selection of a new vice chancellor for recommendation to the Governing Council for appointment as acting vice-chancellor for a period of not more than six months as stipulated in section 3(13) and (14) of the Universities(Miscellaneous provisions: (Amendment) Act, 2002.”
Since Professor Idowu Olayinka’s tenure as VC expires on Monday, the Commission said “it is pertinent for the Governing Council to meet in the afternoon of Monday, 30 November 2020 to consider and approve the appointment of the Senate nominees as acting vice-chancellor in the administration of the university.”
NUC also directed the outgoing vice-chancellor, Prof Olayinka, to hand over to the acting VC after the appointment possibly on Monday, November 30th or latest by Tuesday, December 1st.
“The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council is also directed to attend a meeting with the Honourable Minister of Education in his office on Wednesday, 2nd December 2020 at 11:00a.m to brief the Honourable Minister on developments following the Ministerial directives on the resolution of the impasse,” the letter stated.
