To successfully tackle corruption in Nigerian Universities, Vice Chancellors accused of corruption must be arrested and prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has said
According to the Union, such Vice Chancellors must also step down within the period of trial, adding that if judges accused of corruption can be asked to step down “there was no reason to allow the Vice Chancellors to remain in office”.
The Union in a communiqué issued by the National President, Samson Chijioke Ugwoke and the National Publicity Secretary, Salaam Abdussobur, explained that its members who expose alleged corrupt practices of some Vice Chancellors were being suspended while the government is doing nothing about the alleged Corrupt Vice Chancellors.
Part of the Communique read: “NEC observed with great worry, the increasing corruption and the consequent intimidation, harassment and victimization of whistle-blowers who expose the rot and decadence in our Universities.
“NEC wondered why Vice-Chancellors who are facing criminal prosecutions in competent courts, sit-tight in office as in the cases of the Federal University of Technology, Akure and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where the Vice-Chancellors of both Universities continue to superintend over the affairs and budgets of the Universities, with the active connivance of their Governing Councils.
“The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja has convened an illegal meeting of Council outside his power, since he is not a Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council. NEC concludes that the Federal Government appears to be encouraging the same corruption it proclaims to fight, with the continued stay in office of these Vice-Chancellors, who host convocation ceremonies, hold Council meetings and take actions that put a moral question on the anticorruption stance of the federal government.”
The Union added: “Appointment into the governing councils of Universities should not be for political patronage or settlement and government should avail itself of the use of seasoned university administrators (Registrars and Bursars), whose experience and knowledge of the University system would serve the Universities in better stead.
