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Former Vice Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu- Alike, Professor Chinedu Nwajiuba has lamented the situation of Vice Chancellors in Nigeria’s public universities.
According to him, governors and their wives see themselves as masters to the Vice Chancellors.
He also said that many are developing high blood pressure because of Academic Staff of Universities Union, ASUU-related matters in their institutions.
Professor Nwajiuba stated this on Tuesday in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, while delivering a lecture in honour of Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, whose tenure as Vice Chancellor of MOUAU is concluding by this weekend.
According to him, Vice Chancellors of State universities are at the risk of having their appointments terminated by the governors if they feel that such Vice Chancellor is not doing their bidding.
“It has become treacherous to be a Vice Chancellor. For the VC of a State University, your master is the State Governor (sometimes his wife or children) who depending on how he feels may terminate your appointment and may forget that staff have to be paid,” Nwajiuba said.
He commended Processor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe for fostering unity and good relationship with staff of the Michael Okpara University throughout his five years of leadership.
Professor Nwajiuba also said that Vice Chancellors in Federal Universities are facing the pressures of their masters from the Presidency, the National University Commission, National Assembly Ad hoc Committees and Federal Character Commission, whom he said, try to influence events in the Federal Universities.
The former Vice Chancellor of ELFUNAI, who regretted that Nigerian Vice Chancellors were losing respect because of their participation in elections as Returning officers, said that they should no longer be deployed for Returning Officer’s roles.
He argued that most academics were ignorant of the intrigues of Nigerian politics.
State university Vice Chancellors at risk of being sacked by governors, wives – Nwajiuba
