- “The law is very clear on how a VC or anyone acting in that capacity should emerge. In the case of a VC retiring before the appointment of a substantive replacement, the position is that the Deputy VC (Administration) will act.
The National Association of Nigerian Students in conjunction with the Students Union Government of Kwara State University, Malete, on Wednesday protested against the appointment of Prof Kenneth Adeyemi as acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
The protest followed the unceremonious removal of Prof Abdulrasheed Na’allah as KWASU Vice-Chancellor by the state government on Monday.
A statement by the state Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Abdullahi Alikinla, asked Na’allah to hand over to Adeyemi and proceed on terminal leave as his tenure expires in July.
The students, who frowned upon the state government’s decision, blocked the main gate of the school, asking Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to reverse it.
Addressing reporters after the protest on campus, NANS Chairman, Kwara State, Saheed Olosasa, and President, KWASU SUG, Abdulganiyu Dikko, who expressed their dissatisfaction with the action, asked Ahmed to explain the decision within 24 hours.
They said, “We want to affirmatively state that we the entire students still recognise Prof Abdulrasheed Na’Allah as our VC.”
KWASU Governing Council in a statement by their chairman Prof Saka Nuru on Tuesday described Adeyemi’s appointment as “illegal”.
A group, Kwara Community for Qualitative Education, accused the state government of wanting to coerce the governing council into endorsing Adeyemi’s appointment.
Secretary of the group, Ishaq Abu, said in a statement rejected the state government’s claim that the governor acted within the law in appointing the acting VC.
He insisted the state government did not consult the governing council as required by law before removing Na’allah and appointing Adeyemi.
Abu said, “The law is very clear on how a VC or anyone acting in that capacity should emerge. In the case of a VC retiring before the appointment of a substantive replacement, the position is that the Deputy VC (Administration) will act.
“In the case of KWASU, the governing council had commenced the process of appointing a replacement for the incumbent VC before his tenure expires in July. “The council had advertised for qualified candidates to apply and the period of application closes today (May 8). Therefore, the council has been implementing an orderly process for the nomination of a substantive VC and the appointment of an acting VC by the governor at this time is not only unlawful but uncalled for.”
