Nigerian University Administrators Reject Unilateral Appointments to Academic Offices

University administrators have reaffirmed that appointments of deans, provosts, and heads of department in Nigerian universities must follow established electoral procedures and Conditions of Service, rejecting unilateral appointments.

University administrators have said unilateral appointments into key academic offices contradict established governance procedures across Nigerian universities.

The administrators, who reaffirmed strict compliance with Conditions of Service, made the assertion in separate telephone interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  in Akure.

Registrars and senior university officials said appointments of Deans, Provosts and Heads of Department must follow clearly defined electoral processes contained in institutional laws.

Mr Muftau Ibrahim, Registrar of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), said elections into such positions were conducted according to approved university regulations, while every staff received copies of the Scheme and Conditions of Service.

According to him, acting deans may only be appointed where no professor exists within a faculty, and such appointments last one year.

Also, Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo, Director of Public Communication and Protocol at Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), described unilateral decisions within universities as practically impossible.

Adebanjo said FUTA recently constituted a broad-based committee to review its Conditions of Service in line with current administrative realities.

Similarly, Mr Kassim Babamale, Registrar of Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun (FUHSI), also affirmed strict compliance with Conditions of Service provisions.

Babamale said appointments of deans and provosts followed electoral procedures conducted by Faculty Boards and College Academic Boards.