In 2008, Prof Francis Idike’s appointment as Vice- Chancellor of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) pitched the governing council against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). His reappointment for another term of five years has reignited that crisis, reports Ogbonnaya Obinna from Abakaliki.
As it was in 2008, so it is now. Prof Francis Idike’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) four years ago pitched the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against the government. Now, his reappointment has reignited that crisis. ASUU says it will stop at nothing to ensure that due process is followed in the appointment of a new VC.
Idike, who succeeded Prof Fidelix Ogah, has been having a running battle with EBSU-ASUU since his appointment.
ASUU percieves Idike’s appointment as wrong but the government is not moved by the union’s position. Idike left as Deputy Vice- Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to take up EBSU job.
In 2008, ASUU protested the non-inclusion of the VC’s tenure, in his appointment letter, signed by the Secretary to the State Government Chief Fidelis Mbam. It views what it perceives as a deliberate omission as a ploy by the government to continue to impose vice-chancellors on the university without advertising for the job.
Four years after, ASUU and the Governing Council are at it again as Idike has been re-appointed.
EBSU-ASUU Chairman Prof Emeka Nwakpu said the council did not follow due process in recommending Idike for a second term of five years, adding that the protest is to ensure that the right thing is done.
Nwakpu said when Idike was first appointed in 2008, the union was against it but did not down tools because a national strike had just ended.
“We wanted to protest but because of the industrial action that engulfed universities in the country that just ended in 2008, we decided to shift the evil day. Right from the first appointment of the VC, due process has never been followed and we felt that it is time the right thing is done in this institution. So many things are done wrongly here and we are determined to see to its end.
“The 2009 Ebonyi State University Law was amended in 2011. The law has a lot of loopholes, we made presentations but the state government ignored all the recommendations made by ASUU, one of which was that vice-chancellors and other principal officers should only serve for five years, which is applicable in other universities in the country except Ebonyi State University.
“It is expected that when a state law and the constitution is in contention, the Federal Law takes precedence. The Ebonyi State Government in amending the EBSU Law included the 70 years compulsory retirement age but failed to include the five years single tenure for the Vice Chancellor and other Principal Officers”.
“The question we are asking is, why adopt other positions in the constitution and leave that of the Five Years Single tenure? The Ebonyi State University should join other universities in the country to run the same constitutional provision. As at today, EBSU is the only university in the country running a two term of five years. With the problems associated with second term, we expect that the institution should amend the constitution to run a single five year term like other universities”.
Nwakpu added that the law which took effect from May 2012, also stipulates that retired professors should not be appointed as vice-chancellors. He said Idike, now 67, should have retired in 2010 having clocked 65 years before the new constitution.
“ASUU is insisting that the Governing Council should advertise the position for people to apply and three shortlisted for the visitor to appoint. We cannot continue to run this institution as if there are no constitutional provisions. We have nothing against the Vice Chancellor; all we are asking is that the right thing should be done,” he said.
The union sent on October 31, 2012 letter to the Senate, detailing their disapproval. However, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Dr. Igwe Ajah Nwachukwu said in an interview that the averments of ASUU/EBSU stand on one leg of Miscellaneous Provisions Amendment Act Law 2012 predicated on the Federal Government/ASUU Agreement of 2009, arguing that there are no provisions in the 1999 Federal Government Constitution and Miscellaneous Provision Amendment Act Law 2012 that supersede the provision of 1999 and 2011 EBSU Laws. He added that the provision on the appointment of serving present Principal Officers are not in tandem with ASUU-FGN agreement.
“It is the firm position of the Governing Council of this institution that no violence has been done to the laws of Ebonyi State University by action of the present Governing Council on the recommendation of the re-appointment of the present Vice Chancellor to the visitor of the this great institution”
The Pro-Chancellor pointed out that the investigation of the Vice Chancellor by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies cannot stall his recommendation for re-appointment, describing the allegation of N70 million bribe against Idike as laughable.
On the 70 years retirement age, Ajah Nwachukwu said since the Vice-Chancellor will reach the milestone in three years, the institution would find a solution to avoid any vacuum that may be created when he retires.
“Professor Idike’s case is not the first in the retirement age of appointed VCs. A former Lagos State University Vice Chancellor was appointed at the age of 68 years and by the time he clocked 70 he was due for retirement and he retired and another person was appointed, so when we get to that bridge we will know how to cross it,” he said.
Ajah Nwachuwku said the council’s recommendation for Idike’s re-appointment stemmed from the infrastructural and human developments the university witnessed during his first tenure. Also, Idike is credited with prudent management of resources, in addition to restoring financial discipline to the institution.
Some of the infrastructure built in his administration include a 1000-capacity conference centre and the school of post graduate studies complex, modernisation of the administrative arena in the Collage of Agricultural Sciences (CAS), perimeter fencing of the CAS campus, establishment of a micro-finance bank, among others.
On human development, Ajah Nwachukwu said between 2010 and 2012, over 25 academics started their Masters and Ph.D programmes overseas while over 200 workers – technical, academic and administrative – have benefited from international, national and local conferences/workshops and short-term trainings. He said Idike has also been given pass mark for thorough scrutiny of job quotation involving money, which has helped the institution reduce financial recklessness prevalent before his appointment.
Proponents of Idike’s re-appointment support him for his resourcefulness. They claim that the state government’s monthly subvention to the university is not more than N245 million, yet salaries consume about N370 million monthly. This shows that the Vice Chancellor and his team add N72 million monthly to salaries alone from internally generated revenue.
Ajah Nwachuklwu noted that the Vice Chancellor has also cleared promotion and leave allowances of staff that were outstanding between 2005 and 2008.
Critics of Idike’s appointment, the ASUU and the Peace Movement for EBSU argued that though he improved infrastructural and human development, his first appointment was an illegality.
They argued that in 2008 when Prof Idike was appointed Prof Awoke, the Former Secretary to the State Government Prof Ozor Nweke Ozor applied for the same position but the governor unilaterally appointed IdikeVC without considering the others.
The critics after an emergency meeting rose with the following questions; whether the governing councils action was in compliance with the constitutional provisions, whether the Vice Chancellor and other Principal staff were eligible for re-appointment, was Prof Idike the only candidate eligible for the Vice Chancellorship position among others.
In its October 30, 2012 statement, the Peace Movement for Ebonyi State University signed by its Chairman and Secretary respectively, Mr. Ibegbu L and Okeke M.S said the Vice Chancellor should not be reappointed since he is still under probe by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC. The bodies argued that allowing him continue as the Vice Chancellor will jeopardize the investigation of the anti-graft agency adding that the Vice Chancellor should submit himself to the agency for probe.
When contacted, a senior staff in the office of the Secretary to State Government who pleaded anonymity said, the non-inclusion of theVC tenureon his appointement letter was not a deliberate attempt by the government to elongate his tenure adding that during his appointment, the constitution was not specific on the tenure of the Vice Chancellor.
He said: “When Elechi emerged the Governor of the State and the need to re-appoint a Vice Chancellor, there was no specific tenure for the position of the Vice Chancellor so for the Governor not to do anything contrary to the provision of the constitution, he appointed Prof Idike without specifying the time frame of his administration. Those who are insinuating that it was a deliberate attempt to elongate his tenure are mischievous and has orchestrated plans to not only frustrate the administration of the Vice Chancellor but to also ridicule the office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Governor himself. Chief Martin Elechi believes in the principal of due process and would not do anything that would contravene the provisions of the constitution.”
Some of the lecturers and students who spoke with The Nation on grounds of anonymity argued that Idike’s reappointment should be advertised to create room for equal competition adding that the Council should not unilaterally recommend him but should submit at least three names to the governor for him to choose the best.
Another cross section of the lecturers and the students argued that the institution has never had it so good pointing out that Idike has not only brought prudence to the running of the institution but has also ensured that the academic environment is conducive both for the students and the lecturers. They urged the Visitor to the university not to hesitate in reappointing the Vice Chancellor as those calling for his removal are those who want to continue to siphon funds from the institution.
When contacted, Idike argued that he never retired from UNN as being claimed by the Movement and the ASUU. According to him, based on the old law he was to retire in 2010 but with the amendment of the constitution that pegged the retire age for professors at 70 he still has more years to put into service.
Idike also said that the appointment of the Vice Chancellor was a political appointment as he was not a staff of the university. He said his appointment was a national service, adding that should the Ebonyi State government say it no longer needed his services, he would go back to the UNN were he would retire at 70.
Idike regretted the pull-him-down syndrome prevalent in Nigeria adding that the university community should not engage in such act as it is the environment is for academic excellence.
On the alleged financial investigation, he said EFCC wrote him requesting for document for the execution of various contracts in the university pointing out that the anti graft agency has been provided with such document, yet nothing has been found against him. He also noted that the ploy was a calculated attempt by some individual who does not like the prudence in the administration of the university.
He added that his administration in the last five years has blocked all leakages that existed before his appointed noting that the financial prudence that exist now in the institution creates room for the institution to prosecute its accreditation process without much burden on the State government.
