FG did not fire 13 VCs— Committee clears air

Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVC) has moved to clear the air on the controversial sack of 13 vice chancellors of tertiary institutions by the Federal government recently, saying, saying it was a wrong impression.
The group made the clarification via a statement signed by its Secretary General, Prof. Michael Faborode.
It stated that nine of the Vice Chancellors had completed their tenures and could not have been sacked as they had already handed over before the announcement.
“For the nine Federal Universities established in 2011, except the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, the tenure of the Vice Chancellors expired on Monday February 15, hence it will be wrong to say they are being sacked,” the group said.
“Perhaps the date of the announcement being Friday 12 February conveyed a wrong message that the new VCs were expected to assume office on that date, thereby giving a wrong impression that the outgoing VCs were sacked.
“This is far from the true position. Indeed, from information available to us, all 8 VCs had handed over to their respective Ag. Vice-Chancellors (appointed by their Governing Councils) against Monday, February 15, in line with provisions of the University Miscellaneous Act.
The group also appealed to the government to allow the other university dons complete their tenures.
“For the 3 new Federal Universities at Birnin Kebi, Gashua and Gusau, and that at Oye-Ekiti, whose VC was appointed after the pioneer VC, Prof C. Nebo, was named Minister, we are surprised that new Vice Chancellors are announced to have been appointed, as this does not conform to the extant practice in the university system,” the statement continued.
“The VCs have inviolable tenure of 5 years. The situation is even made worse by the announced appointment of a new VC for NOUN, which is no stranger to the statutory process of appointing a VC. We plead that these Vice Chancellors should be allowed to complete their tenure or proper statutory and transparent procedures be adopted if they are accused of any wrong doings.