VC’S HANDOVER: Protest rocks UNN

There is tension at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, following the refusal of the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Charles Igwe, to convene a Senate meeting of the University in order to nominate an Acting Vice Chancellor of the Institution through the recommendation of its Senate.

The development has sparked wide protest which has put the institution in a state of pandemonium.

It was learnt that Professor Igwe who had earlier scheduled a Senate meeting for the nomination of an Acting Vice Chancellor today being Wednesday, cancelled the meeting indefinitely without the consultation of the Senators of the University.

It was learnt that the indefinite cancellation of the Senate meeting few days to his leaving office has agitated the minds of the Senators who allegedly suspect that he is up to some back-door arrangements to foist his stooge on the University.

Recall that the Federal Government has ordered all outgoing Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities to nominate an Acting Vice Chancellor through the recommendation of the Senate of the universities, an order which has been adhered to by other institutions save UNN.

However, leading a protest on the development today at UNN, the President, Nsukka Youths General Assembly, Roy Ekwueme, declared that the delay by the outgoing Vice Chancellor was a ploy for him and his cabals to allegedly foist his stooge on the institution.

Ekwueme declared that such attempt would be resisted. He called on the Federal Government to prevail on the Vice Chancellor to do the needful in order to guarantee seamless transition of power and peace in the University.

“The Federal Ministry of Education has sent a letter mandating all the outgoing Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities to nominate an Acting Vice Chancellors through the recommendation of the Senate of the Universities. That Senate meeting is what we have been waiting to happen in UNN because other universities have already done theirs and nominated an Acting Vice Chancellor who would be in the saddle on acting capacity pending the constitution of Governing Council of universities by the federal government to start the process of electing substantive Vice Chancellors.

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“That Senate meeting which was to hold today was cancelled indefinitely by the Vice Chancellor for no reason. Why would he postpone a meeting for the nomination of an Acting Vice Chancellor today when he knows that he must leave office on Monday? There is something happening underground and we know it is not happening for the interest of the University, the students, staff and Nigerians at large.

“We want him to convene a Senate meeting latest tomorrow so that the Senators would decide who mans his seat at the expiration of his tenure,” he demanded.

The youths numbering over 1000 were also bearing placards with different inscriptions such as; “VC hand over to the most senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

“Why was the special senate meeting scheduled today cancelled?

“VC respect Nsukka land. Enough is enough, do the right thing now.

“Honour the Minister’s Directive.

“Enugu people will not accept imposition,” among others.