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Tag: VC

  • Presidency, VC disagree on ‘salary discrepancy’ at Otuoke Varsity

    •Commissioin demands refunds from VC, Registrar
    •VC explains salary difference

    The Presidency has uncovered an alleged salary discrepancy at the Federal University at Otuoke, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s hometown, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    A document obtained from the university showed that the alleged misappropriation was uncovered by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) during a salary inspection routine.

    The commission indicted Vice Chancellor Prof. Mobolaji Aluko and Registrar David Fouwari, for allegedly collecting money in excess of their salaries.

    Aluko was said to have collected a monthly N1,970,476 emolument whereas he should not have earned more than N922,810 per month.

    Fouwari was reportedly paid N1,130,692 instead of his monthly salary of N502,580.

    Also, NSIWC accused the university of disaggregating its workers’ salaries against the Federal Government’s policy of pay consolidation.

    In a May 12 letter to  Aluko, the commission queried him for flouting extant government pay policies.

    The letter, which was signed on behalf of the commission’s chairman by the Director of Compensation, Chike N. Ogbechie, directed the university to stop the “unethical” practices and comply with the rules and rates.

    NSIWC also directed the vice chancellor and the registrar to refund the cumulative overpayment to it within four weeks.

    Although the letter did not disclose the amount to be refunded by the two top officials, it was learnt that their refunds amount to about N50 million.

    Based on the directive of the commission, the ultimatum given to the duo to refund the money expired on June 12.

    But Aluko explained that the difference in his salary constituted unconsolidated allowances paid to him in consideration of his Diaspora status.

    The vice chancellor said the three vice chancellors hired by the Federal Government from the Diaspora to head some new universities were given special allowances to cover some of their running costs abroad, including their pension and health insurance policies.

    He said: “The difference is not a salary difference. We are on sabbatical. My family is still abroad and we have health insurance policies. I still have many years in my university abroad…

    “If l were to pay all these from my local Nigerian salary, I will have just about N100,000 left per month.”

    Aluko said there was no disaggregation of salaries in the institution, adding that not all the allowances were consolidated.

    On the registrar’s salary difference, he said it was a responsibility allowance approved for all registrars by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    He said: “The Registrar has a responsibility allowance from ASUU. There is N62,000 per month and it is part of the ASUU agreement. There is another one. There were certain things that were consolidated and others not consolidated. They can’t consolidate Diaspora allowance because not everybody is Diaspora. It is a sacred issue.

    “Part of the reasons these issues are coming up is that when we started, we didn’t have a council. Many of the things they said they didn’t approve for us, the council of other schools had approved them and more for their people all this time.”

    But the commission’s letter to the vice chancellor said: “You may wish to recall that in October 2013, a team of officers of this commission visited your institution and carried out an inspection of remuneration practices, vis-a-vis the extant government pay policy, as part of the commission’s mandate stipulated in the enabling law.

    “The findings of the inspection in respect of your institution were as follows:

    “The vice chancellor was being paid total emoluments of N1,970,476.76 monthly, whereas he should not earn more than N922,810.23, if he were paid furniture allowance en bloc earlier or N1,043,176.79; if he were being paid furniture allowance monthly. Much of the difference was attributed to certain allowances, which were not approved by the government.”

  • No retrenchment, VC assures workers of new education varsity

    No retrenchment, VC assures workers of new education varsity

    The Vice Chancellor of the newly established Federal University of Education, Zaria, Prof Ibrahim Kolo, has assured all members of staff of the institution which was recently upgraded from a college of education that they would not lose their jobs.

    Kolo, who gave this assurance during an interactive session with journalists in Minna at the weekend, said the workers were apprehensive over their fate following the elevation of the institution.

    He said, he had to assure them when he met with leaders of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) of the institution that no worker would lose his or her job. Instead, he said the elevation will create a window for some of them to undergo further training.

    Kolo, who was the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Niger State-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, said: “I cashed on the maiden meeting with the academic staff that nobody will be retrenched, rather the development will open further windows of opportunities for staff career enhancement and development.”

    He however said a comprehensive staff appraisal would be carried out in order to ensure that workers are appropriately placed, emphasising that those that have the need for higher qualification would be encouraged.

    “All staff would be appraised with a view to a fair and appropriate placement in the Graduate Specialised Teacher Education Programmes immediately to be developed for the university, while others who cannot fit in immediately will be offered the opportunity and support to either go for relevant higher degrees or be placed in other Teacher Education Training compartments to emerge either in the form of the re-designation of the existing NCE Basic Education Programme or appropriate Teacher Professional Development Programmes also to be put in place,” he said.

    Kolo then appealed to the workers to cooperate with him and urged them to suggest how best to take the new institution to a lofty height.

    Federal College of Education, Zaria, was one of the four colleges elevated to universities of education by the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Others are: Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Federal College of Education, Kano, and Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri.

  • UNIJOS still attractive despite insurgency, says VC

    UNIJOS still attractive despite insurgency, says VC

    Despite the security challenges ravaging Plateau State, the University of Jos (UNIJOS) is among the most preferred institutions for admission seekers.

    Its Vice Chancellor, Prof Hayward Mafuyai, said the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) rated the university ninth among preferred universities in the country and third most preferred institution in the north after the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

    Mafuyai told journalists this after presenting of the Olowo of Owo, Oba Victor Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi III, with his letter of appointment as Chancellor of the institution.

    Mafuyai said though they are worried over the unending crisis in the north but they are also happy that it has not affected the school’s enrolment.

    “Surprisingly, it has not. If you go by JAMB statistics for the last admission, University of Jos was the ninth preferred university in the country. That is JAMB statistics, not ours. And in the northern part of the country, we are third most preferred institution after Ilorin and ABU.

    “So we are quite happy with that. Inspite of that we think, when the security situation significantly improves, we hope to be the most preferred institution in Nigeria,” he said.

    Addressing the new Chancellor on his appointment, Pro-Chancellor of the university, Chief Don Obot Etiebet, who led other members of the Governing Council, said the monarch was chosen based on his wealth of experience in managing particularly human resources.

    The Pro-Chancellor recalled that the monarch was once a lecturer in the university, and praised him for the role he played in nurturing its Law faculty even after he had moved to the Nigeria Law School in Lagos State.

    “Kabiyesi, we will like to tell you that your faculty of Law in UNIJOS is one of the most recognised in the country.

    “We know you have been a chancellor at the University of Benin, and University of Abuja and we are very glad to have you as our chancellor. We believe that your experience in academic field will have a great impact in our institution,” he said.

    In his response, Olateru-Olagbegi promised to do more than what he has done in previous institutions he has served.

    He counseled lecturers to always show more commitment in anything they do, saying one day the reward will eventually come.

  • ‘UI VC’ll emerge transparently’

    ‘UI VC’ll emerge transparently’

    The committee  saddled with the selection of candidates for the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI) has assured that it will carry out its duties  transparently.

    The Chairman of the UI Community Forum 2015, Prof. Nelson Fashina, said: “The University of Ibadan Community Forum 2015 has been inaugurated to take charge of the processes leading to the emergence of the new VC.

    “Our terms of reference are to draw up modality for the community meetings. We are to come up with the cost and logistical estimates for the implementation of the meeting.

    “Others terms are to organise and manage the meeting and to submit a publishable report /blueprint at the end of the exercise.

    “The 13-man committee is drawn from all unions on the campus, including NASU, SSANU, ASUU, National Association of Academic Technologists and the Student Union.

    “We have in place five functional sub-committees. They are  media and publicity, logistics, ceremony, organising and finance.

    “Each committee will submit its budget for consideration and approval. The programme is being sponsored by all the unions for which ASUU is the arrow-head.

    “The overriding logistic for implementation of our mission is to give a level playing ground to all contestants.

    “In other words, we are a neutral and objective body seeking the enthronement of truth, fair play and justice.

    “All candidates, therefore, earn respect for their personal opinion, vision and mission such that none can be intimidated or harassed. All contestants from within and outside the university are given equal opportunities.”

    He explained that the Forum will articulate the conjunction of positive interests in the direction of unity and harmony.

  • VC: our aim is to make UNIZIK great

    VC: our aim is to make UNIZIK great

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, has said his vision was to make the institution the best in the country. The dream, he said, is achievable if the staff and students share and support his vision.

    The VC spoke during a breakfast session with reporters in his office to mark his first anniversary. Ahaneku, a professor of Chemical Pathology, said his administration had recorded tremendous progress in the last one year.

    He said his administration’s effort to solve the problem of impersonation and examination malpractices was yielding results, noting that the upgrading of admission processes to a digital method had proven to be reliable.

    In the last post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exams, he said over 440 candidates abandoned the test and ran away after seeing the thoroughness of the screening process. About 80 impersonators, he said, were arrested and are being prosecuted.

    He said: “Through biometric registration, we have the data of all our students. Since I assumed leadership, I can tell you that many lecturers have buckled up. We insisted on doing the right thing and any forms of extortion by lecturers have been stopped. Today, students graduate on recorded time. If anything delays students’ results, the head of such department is punished, just as we recently sanctioned a lecturer.”

    The VC said the introduction of research exhibition by his administration has made departments to step up researches and come up with outcome and inventions that could be presented on the world stage.

    The result, he said, include the breakthrough of the institution’s engineering students, who produced a fast racing car, which was displayed recently at science exhibition in Abuja.

    “That car was produced with 60 per cent local materials. As I speak to you, other products made with 80 per cent local materials are in the pipeline. That is the way we want to go. We want our students to be self-reliant and we believe that is where the future of Nigeria lies,” he said.

    He said improvement in the university rating was the reason the school is second most-preferred university in the country.

    He said he was satisfied with his achievements in the last one year, promising to pursue his programmes aggressively to make his administration attainment its goals.

  • UNTH honours VC

    UNTH honours VC

    In what looked like the celebration of excellence, the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, last week at Enugu, presented its Millennium Award of Excellence to the vice chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba. Ozumba, who is a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology.

    Staff of the department had packaged the grand event to celebrate and thank God that one of its members, Prof. Ozumba is the first to be appointed the vice chancellor of the University of Nigeria since its inception in 1960.

    The occasion attracted renowned gynaecologists and other medical professionals from within and outside the country, heads of health institutions and principal officers of the University.

    The roll call included the Chief Medical director of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Dr. Chris Amah,  former deputy vice chancellor of University of Nigeria Enugu – campus, Prof. Bede Ibe, former provost college of medicine, UNN, Prof Martin Aghaji, the current provost of college of medicine, UNN, Prof. Ernest Onwasigwe and his deputy, Prof. Fidelis Ebele Ejezie.

    Others were, Prof. Nene Obianyo who was former provost college of medicine ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, the doyen of obstetrics and gynaecology Prof. Arthur Ikeme, Prof. Iloabachie, Prof. Chukwudebelu, the controller of the Federal Mortgage Bank Enugu, Mr. Ibuzo Chris, the former dean, faculty of dentistry UNN and chairman Welfare Committee of the college of medicine, UNN, Dr. Mrs. Linda Oge Okoye, Dr. Peter Nkwo and Prof. Vincent Emeka Egwuatu, the chairman of the occasion.

    The editor-in-chief of the college of medicine Newsletter, Dr. Obi Ikechukwu, Dr. Uche Agu, of the department of  gynaecology and Ezennia Austin Akpali of the  department of medical rehabilitation medicine, Enugu – Campus of UNN were also there.

    The elated vice chancellor of UNN, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, said that machinery had been set in motion to ensure that UNN would be ranked among best Universities in Africa within the next 18 months.

    He restated that research, intellectual development and improvement of staff welfare remained the main trust of his administration, adding that his recent trip abroad was part of a robust attempt to link the University of Nigeria with the best in the world for growth.

    Ozumba expressed joy that during his foreign trip, he was received warmly everywhere he visited “UNN will continue to be better, UNN has changed and research is at its peak now”.

    He, however, called for patience and support of all stakeholders and told the crowded audience to better assess him after his tenure.

    “For now, I am yet to work for one year, but anyone close to the university would know that Prof. Ozumba is not sleeping, that Prof. Ozumba, who changed the face of the college of medicine, when he served as provost, has not changed”, he further remarked.

    The University don praised the head of department of obstetrics and gynaecology, UNN, Prof. Samuel Nnamdi Obi, for organizing the event, stressing that despite the busy schedules of the doctors and other logistical challenges, the occasion was a huge success.

    According to him “although, the department is always on the move since I joined it as a house officer several years ago, we need occasions like this where we can dine and wine and re-new friendship, I thank some of my teachers who shelved their busy schedules to honour me today, I remain grateful”.

    Ozumba, also congratulated Dr. Chris Amah on his re-appointment as chief medical director of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital for a second four-year tenure.

    The organizer of the event and head department of obstetrics and gynaecology, UNTH, Prof. Samuel Nnamdi Obi, explained that the departmental get together was designed to enhance social interaction and promote love among staff and students, see those we have not seen for some time and say farewell to those retiring.

    Obi said that the 2015 edition was unique, as it afforded them the opportunity to honour one of their own, an erudite scholar, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, who rose to the position of vice chancellor of the University on June last year.

    The chairman  of the occasion, Prof. Vincent Emeka Egwuatu of the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, charged the vice chancellor to do all he could to lift UNN and regretted that despite its age and population, it was not ranked among 50 best Universities in Africa.

    Also speaking, the doyen of gynaecology and the former president of the Rotary Club of Enugu, Prof. Arthur Ikeme, described Prof. Chukwum Ozumba as the pride of the college of medicine.

    He said following his performance profile in academic and administration since he joined the department, he was not surprised that Prof. Ozumba would rise so rapidly and traced his success to   his school days at Government College, Umuahia, where he gained quality education and leadership training.

    The department also honoured one of its staffs, Mrs Edith Abadom for high productivity and discipline.

  • VC delivers FUTA’s inaugural

    The Vice-Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Prof Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, has identified agriculture as a potent tool for poverty reduction, job creation and food security.

    Ajibefun said this while delivering the 69th inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology Akure  titled: ‘Nigeria’s agricultural policy, productivity and poverty: The critical nexus’.

    “Agriculture is a powerful poverty reduction tool. According to the World Bank (2010), for every one per cent growth in agriculture, poverty declines by as much as two per cent. Given the fact that majority of those who are hungry live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods, investing in agriculture is the most efficient way to target those in need,” he said.

    Ajibefun described food security as availability of food and ability to purchase it.

    “Agriculture provides the livelihoods of over two-thirds of Africa’s poor and assumes even greater importance in the continent’s poorer countries,” he added.

    He regretted that despite the policies and laudable programmes, abundant natural resources, and a favourable tropical climate, “Nigeria is yet to achieve remarkable progress in raising agricultural production and productivity.”

    The event, which was chaired by FUTA Vice-Chancellor Prof Adebiyi Daramola.

  • VC urges support for his vision to put varsity among best

    VC urges support for his vision to put varsity among best

    In his effort to reposition the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State, the third substantive Vice-Chancellor, Prof Akii Ibhadode, has urged stakeholders to support his vision to make the university one of the best 500 in the world.

    He made the appeal during a press briefing held on Tuesday, where he reiterated his determination to exploit opportunity windows to produce high-level manpower for the oil and gas industry.

    Prof Ibhadode said as a specialised institution, FUPRE has certain privileges in the nation’s petroleum industry, which it can develop to attract special privilege among oil companies to get funding for researches and training equipment.

    He said the university also has plans to generate income from consultancy training. He promised to leverage on existing resources, such as physical facilities and others to increase staff motivation and improved learning.

    He said: “There are ongoing talks to collaborate with the industries and foreign universities. The programme of the university is structured to meet global requirements in the industry as prevalent in the other petroleum universities of the world. I also want to use students’ projects to solve real problems in the petroleum and allied industry, which would increase the school reputation and boost income for the school.”

    The VC said quality of teaching and learning in the school had enabled students to excel in global competitions, noting that alumni of the institution, who did their Master’s degree at the Institute of Petroleum Studies of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), emerged the best and were sponsored for doctoral programme abroad by the McArthur Foundations.

    If substantially implemented, Prof Ibhadode assured that his programmes would attract massive development to the school. He promised to improve laboratory performance of students through workshops and research to bolster the academic status of the university.

    He said he would maintain the accreditation status of the school, promising to get approval for programmes still in interim accreditation stage.

    Pledging to strengthen relationship with the host communities, the VC hailed the traditional rulers and people of Uvwie, Ugbmro and Iteregbi communities for their commitment and support for his vision.

  • VC donates books to library

    Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Akii Ibhadode has donated books and  journals worth over N500,000 to the school library.

    The donation was made after the 30th meeting of the school’s  Governing Council.

    Ibhadode donated 50 copies of his book titled: Introduction to Manufacturing Technology, published by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for 200-Level and 300-Level engineering students.

    He also donated 32 copies of Volumes one to six of International Journal on Engineering Research in Africa (JERA), which he published in Switzerland for research.

    Presenting the books, Prof Ibhadode said the gesture was to show appreciation for the opportunity given to him to serve, noting that he has a vision to lift the school to the top 500 universities in the world.

    The Chairman of Council and Pro-chancellor, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, praised the VC for the donation, saying that the council was justified by its choice of Ibhadode as the school’s helmsman. He described the VC as a dynamic and focused leader.

    Other books donated included 18 copies of Advanced Materials Research (AMR) on Advances in Materials and Systems Technologies.

     

  • Maritime University gets VC, Registrar

    President Goodluck Ebele  Jonathan has appointed Prof  Ongoebi Maureen Etebu as Vice Chancellor and Mr Anho Nathaniel Esoghene Lucky as Registrar of the Nigeria Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State.

    In a statement, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, noted that Mrs. Etebu is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt.

    She graduated with a B.Sc from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, in 1982, and went on to obtain a Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), in 1997.

    The Vice Chancellor also obtained an M.Sc in Engineering from the same insitution and an MBA from the University of Port Harcourt with a bias in Management.

    She has extensive working experience in the university administration and the Public Service and is occupying a Professional Chair for Engineering Management.

    The Registrar, Lucky, obtained a BA (Education) History/Foundations from the University of Port Harcourt and a Masters in Industrial and Labour Relations.

    He has held several positions in the University management spanning from Senior Assistant Registrar to the position of Deputy Registrar/College Secretary, College of Health Science, Delta State University, Abraka, a position which he held until his appointment.