Following recent crisis which trailed appointment of institutional heads in certain public universities and other tertiary institutions nationwide, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, on Thursday approved the implementation of a guiding policy on eligibility for the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts.
The policy, which was announced by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo on Thursday morning was said to have become necessary following a pattern of undue advantage observed over the years, “where officers serving in acting capacities often leverage their positions to influence appointment outcomes, thereby compromising the fairness and transparency of the selection process.”
The statement noted that the new policy aims to eliminate this practice, ensure a level playing field for all qualified candidates, and strengthen institutional governance.
The policy stipulates that any officer serving in an acting capacity as Vice Chancellor, Rector, or Provost shall not be eligible to apply for the substantive position while still holding the acting appointment.
It read, “However, in the interest of fairness, such officers may choose to recuse themselves from their acting positions before the expiration of their non-renewable six-month tenure, thereby becoming eligible to apply for the substantive roles.
“This policy is designed to complement the existing Federal Ministry of Education Guidelines for the Appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts (2013), along with all other extant regulations governing appointments in federal tertiary institutions.
“Governing Councils, Managements, and relevant stakeholders are hereby requested to ensure strict compliance with the new directive. For clarity and ease of implementation, the policy document is enclosed as Annex I, while the 2013 Guidelines are enclosed as Annex II.
“The ministry appreciates the continued dedication and cooperation of stakeholders in upholding good governance and maintaining the integrity of leadership appointment processes within the education sector. It is our belief that this policy will bring about the desired reforms and enhance public confidence in the selection of principal officers in our institutions.”
Certain institutions notably the University of Abuja, Admiralty University, the Nnamdi Azikwe University among others were recently in the eye of the storm following controversies which trailed the appointment of new institutional heads.
