RE: IMSU VICE CHANCELLOR’S TENURE ELONGATION, CONSPIRACY AND BRIBERY OF THE PROF. CHINEDU NEBO VISITATION PANEL

RE: IMSU VICE CHANCELLOR’S TENURE ELONGATION, CONSPIRACY AND BRIBERY OF THE PROF. CHINEDU NEBO VISITATION PANEL

Our attention has been drawn to the ongoing campaign against Prof. Chinedu Nebo Visitation Panel in respect of their recommendation on the tenure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Mrs. Victoria Adaobi Obasi by one Mr. Fidelis Eze.

From the statement of Mr. Fidelis Eze, one could discern that he is grossly ignorant of the working of the Nigerian University System and indeed the relevant provisions of the Imo State University Law No. 5, of 2004 in respect of the appointment of Vice-Chancellor.

Though, Mr. Fidelis Eze may have been acquainted with the practices in the civil service, perhaps the Ministry of Education where he is said to work, he does not know the working of the University and the regulations and procedures governing the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in the University System. Acting and Substantive appointments in the University are distinct and separate. There is no time the period of acting appointment in the University is made part and parcel of the tenure of a regular or substantive appointment of staff. No such provision equally exists in the Imo State University Law No. 5, of 2004. The first schedule, section 6(2) subsection 6, of the 2004 law of the University clearly stipulates that the Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for a single term of five years from the date of appointment.

Prof. Adaobi Obasi’s appointment followed all due procedures as enunciated in section 6(2) subsection 2 of the University Law. Her appointment letter duly stipulates that her appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Owerri took effect from November 2016. Therefore, her tenure of office is legitimately expected to elapse by October 2021. There is no such provision in the Imo State University Law No. 5 of 2004 which stipulates that if an Acting Vice-Chancellor spends more than 6 (six) months in acting capacity and then appointed as Substantive Vice-Chancellor, the period spent in acting position would automatically form part of the period of substantive appointment. I stand to be corrected.

We believe the Visitation Panel did its work without fear or favour.

Public Relations Officer
For: Management