…as aggrieved persons petition Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission.
The announcement by the Governing Council of Federal University Wukari of the appointment of Prof. Benjamin Kefas, a biological brother to Governor Agbu Kefas, as the new substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution, is currently generating a flurry of reactions.
The governing council also approved the appointment of Dr.Temboge Andrew as new Librarian for the University.
According to a statement by the Acting Director, Information and Protocol Department of the University, Mrs Agya Ashu, on Tuesday, said that the appointments were approved at a meeting held in the Secretariat of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Abuja on Monday.
She stated that the appointments came after the expiration of the five-year tenure of the Outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jude Sammani Rabo and Dr Isa Sidi Attahir, the University’s Librarian, respectively.
Ashu further stated that handing over ceremony of the Vice-Chancellor will take place at the same venue on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Professor Kefas’ appointment has generated controversy leading to petitions to Federal Ministry of Education and the National University Commission by some concerned people from the southern Taraba.
They expressed fear that the process of the appointment of the new Vice chancellor might have been influenced by some forces.
But sources from Secretariat of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities dismissed the claim, saying the process was conducted transparently without any outside influence.
No fewer than 30 persons were said to have applied for the position of Vice chancellor of the university and four out of the number applied were shortlisted, while two persons applied for the position of Librarian of the university.
The four candidates shortlisted for the interview for the position of Vice chancellor are all from southern Taraba.
The interview for the two key positions were conducted on Monday and at the end, Secretariat of the committee of vice chancellors of Nigerian Universities approved the appointment of Prof. Kefas as the new substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University, while Dr. Andrew was appointed as the new Librarian for the University late Monday.
