Metro
Adamu Bemoans Govs’ Hijack of Federal Varsities’ V-C Appointments
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has accused some state governors of hijacking the process of appointing vice-chancellors for Federal Universities, due to apathy in the selection processes.
Adamu disclosed this on Thursday, in Abuja, while inaugurating the Chairmen and Governing Councils of 19 federal universities, four inter-university centres, and the unveiling of the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, in Benue.
He described this vested interest as responsible for the unimaginable crises in the selection processes of the vice-chancellors for those particular universities in the country, citing the development as leading to ”unnecessary frictions and tension in the institutions”.
Adamu, who enjoined the Governing Councils to take charge and exercise their rights, urged them not to allow outside influence in the selection process of the new vice-chancellors of their institutions.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Education, under his watch, had not in any way interfered with the selection of any vice-chancellor, and ”I have not talked to any chairman that I have any candidate”.
“Unfortunately, I found out that because of my lack of interest, or because I feel I should allow you (the Council) to exercise your right, it is being hijacked by the governors.
“It is your right; don’t sell it to them. The law stipulates that and we are giving you full independence, don’t sell it to them.
“It is, therefore, essential that you familiarise yourselves with the specific laws establishing your university or centre, as well as with other relevant laws of the Federation.
“You should, in particular, be guided by the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1993 and its various amendments (of 2003 and 2012),” he said.
He also urged them to strictly adhere to Section 2AAA of the 2003 Amendment Act.
“The Act stipulates that: “The Governing Council of a university shall be free in the discharge of its functions and exercise of its responsibilities for the good management, growth and development of the university.
“Section 3 (4) of the same 2003 Amendment reposes on Council the power to appoint the vice-chancellor of the university.
“I urge you to exercise this power with utmost sense of responsibility and in the best interest of your universities,” he said.
Adamu said the reconstitution of the Governing Councils of the Federal Universities was coming at the appropriate time, as government recently constituted visitation Panels to the universities.
He disclosed that the Panels had rounded off their assignments and would soon submit their reports in two separate volumes, covering the periods: January 2011 – December 2015, and January 2016 – December 2020, respectively.
As soon as the reports are received, he said, government would study them and issue White Papers, pointing out that their recommendations would guide Councils and Management on improving their systems and services, as they take the necessary steps to address the lapses and weaknesses identified by the panels.
Adamu, however, warned the council members that the President and Visitor to the Federal Universities would not hesitate to dismiss any Council found to be corrupt or incompetent.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, has urged the new councils to partner with the commission in ensuring that their institutions thrived to be centres of knowledge production and human development.
“Our universities, as ivory towers, are the last frontier for the positive development of the next generation of Nigerians and must, therefore, be cherished and shielded from all external vagaries that threaten the attainment of set goals.
“On our part, we have continued to carry out our mandate as the regulatory body, in spite of the recent challenges and restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am pleased to inform this gathering that we have, among other things, actively engaged in re-engineering the curriculum of the various disciplines and programmes being run in the universities, whilst also strengthening the pedagogical skills of our academics for national relevance.
“We have reviewed key aspects of our quality assurance mechanisms to address the inadequacies in teaching, learning and research facilities on our campuses, whilst fostering skills development and entrepreneurship in a bid to prepare our graduates for life after tertiary education,” he said. (NAN)
The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission has begun the regularisation of staff appointments in the FCT Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The Head of the Civilo Service, Dr Udo Atang, said at the commencement of the exercise in Abuja on Wednesday, that the move was to ensure accurate data of all staff.
Atang described the regularisation as a “critical” exercise, which forms the bedrock of the new FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC).
He pointed out that all the staff were holding letters of appointments from various agencies, departments, area councils, and the defunct Ministry of FCT and FCDA among others.
The holders of these letters, he said, have been raising issues of discrimination based on letters of appointment.
According to him, the exercise and the gazette by the commission that will come thereafter, will give all staff a sense of identity.
“The essence of this regularisation is to ensure that staff are properly documented.
“You will now have letters that will now qualify you as a bonafide staff of the FCT Civil Service Commission.”
The head of service, who appealed for full cooperation of the workers, directed that a list of all staff on course, study leave, leave of absence and other related permissions be compiled and submitted.
He added that the list should be compiled with grade level, designation and record of service, including approvals.
Atang commended the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, for his doggedness and commitment in implementing the provisions of the FCT CSC Act, 2018.
Noting Wike’s support and love for the FCT workers, the head of service urged the workers to reciprocate the minister’s uncommon gesture, by being dedicated and committed to their respective duties.
Also speaking, the Chairman, FCT CSC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, stressed that part of the responsibilities of the commission was in the appointment, promotion and discipline of all FCTA and FCDA workers.
Ezeh also stressed the need for the workers to be more committed in the discharge of their responsibilities. (NAN)
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria (CWON) has organized a trauma healing session for survivors of the Jos Saint Academy School collapse alongside parents who lost their children in the unfortunate incident.The National President of the organization, Dame Mary Gonzum noted that the effort was part of their psychosocial support and counseling services for victims of the school building collapse as a follow-up to the assessment of the condition of the victims during their visit.
Gonzum speaking during a one day trauma session held at the Secretariat of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese located along Zaria Road in Jos the Plateau State capital said the trauma healing session was in continuation of their intervention to students who experienced the building collapsed.”Today, a trauma healing session was flagged off with a seminar on how to go about handling the trauma that victims of the Saint Academy School Busa Buji in Jos are passing through.”We will later select those that are so traumatic and need help to continue with the process of healing because it is not something that will end in a day or two but will need sometime.”The surviving students who experienced the building collapsed, parents of the students are all here because some parents are so traumatic, we have one other woman that lost two children”This trauma became necessary because when we went visiting in the hospitals, we observed that some of them are really traumatic. Like the other boy, his mother said up till today he kept telling his mother that he is seeing dead bodies, and anybody he sees he will say is his classmate.”Some of the affected parents while sharing their encounters after the incident said they hardly sleep in the day or night time. Some manage to sleep for two hours and they’re awake, and from the little lectures we received today it is clear that there is a problem,” She noted.The President calls on the government to ensure that those saddled with the responsibility of approving, inspecting and supervising structures are meant to do their job with all diligence to avert future happenings again.Some of the affected parents including; Hasana Suleman Sale who lost two of her children recalled with pains the unfortunate development that claimed the lives of her two children. She expressed gratitude for the trauma healing session which she said came as a means of consolation and strength for her to overcome the trauma she is passing through.
The Catholic Church in Nigeria has welcomed the newly-appointed Apostolic to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty.
Crotty, an Irish, was appointed by the Vatican.
He will oversee the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the church in Nigeria.
The position, an ambassadorial status, advances cohesion in the body of Christ.
In his welcome message for Crotty on Tuesday, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, said that the Church was glad to receive him.
The CBCN president, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, said,” With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, clergy, religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
“We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.
“His appointment is a testament to the strong spiritual bond between our countries,” he said.
He said that although Crotty was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland to serve in Nigeria, many Irish missionaries had played significant roles in spreading the gospel in Nigeria.
“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance of serving in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation.
“We pray for a fruitful mission and a blessed tenure for our excellency,” he added. (NAN)
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