News by Bilkisu Kambai
A group known as Movement for the Advancement and Protection of the University of Jos (MAAPU) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari who is also the Visitor of the University of Jos to quickly intervene selection process of a new Vice Chancellor to succeed the current one whose tenure will end in June, 2021.
The group made the appeal at a press conference in Jos, Plateau state.
Coordinator of the group, Comrade Daniel Sati Tanko said there was a deliberate attempt to cause confusion by some people who do not have the interest of the University and indeed Plateau State at heart.
He said as a matter of tradition, a process was put in place for a smooth transition as mandated by Section 3 (2)a of the University’s Act, wherein advertisements were placed in some notable National Dailies for suitable qualified candidates to apply for the Vice-Chancellorship of the University between the periods of 23rd December 2020 to the 4th of February 2021.
He stated that a Search Panel, in line with Section 3 (2)b of the Institution’s Act headed by Mr Usman Lamido was set up by the University Governing Council, to commence the selection process but tragedy struck on the 1st of February, 2021 when the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University Governing Council, Prince Tony Momoh passed on.
Sati who revealed that the Governing Council met to continue the process as stipulated by the University Act selected a three man Interview Panel with Dr. Mrs. Philomena Mutbam elected as its Chairman.
He disclosed that four days to the interview, a new twist was introduced into the exercise when the National Universities Commission ( NUC) ordered the immediate suspension of the interview.
The group appealed to President Buhari who is the Visitor to cause a letter to be issued to Dr. Mrs. Philomena Mutbam to complete the process within four days so as not to create a vacuum in the Institution.
The Coordinator noted that nothing has been heard from either the Federal Ministry of Education nor the NUC, thereby making them suspicious of an agenda to short-change the process and bring in an unqualified Person as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos.