The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto chapter, has rejected the advertisement for the institution’s vice-chancellor position.

This is contained in a statement signed by the branch chairman and secretary, Nuruddeen Almustapha and Shu’aibu Sadiku, respectively, on Friday in Sokoto.

ASUU described the federal government’s decision to cancel the miscellaneous provisions in the university system as undermining the principles of transparency, equity, and merit-based selection of university principal officers.

According to the union, the National Universities Commission’s arbitrary dissolution of the university governing council and all federal university governing councils in June 2023 undermined the institutions’ established procedures and autonomy.

“Unauthorised advertisement of vacancies for the offices of the vice chancellors and other principal officers in federal universities also violates proper procedures and threatens the integrity and academic freedom of Nigeria’s public universities.

The union said, “It has flagrantly violated section III, subsections I and II of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993.”

The union explained that university law distinctly delineates the governing councils’ composition, roles, and dissolution procedures.

“It also prescribes the protocol in the event of the council’s absence, particularly regarding the appointment of principal officers. At no point does the law transfer the council’s functions to the minister or the visitor,” the union said.

It added, “ASUU-UDUS urgently calls on President Bola Tunubu, the minister of education, and other critical stakeholders to, as a matter of urgency and necessity, reconstitute the governing councils of public universities.

“This step is crucial for universities to operate legally and smoothly, aligning with the provisions of the law. It will uphold the autonomy and independence of universities by adhering to established procedures and safeguarding their integrity.

“Investigate all manners of violations of the Law in the recent actions taken by various universities in the absence of the government councils.”

The union urged all stakeholders to support the autonomy and integrity of public universities for the “betterment of our educational system and the future of our nation.”

(NAN)