The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has tasked newly appointed Vice–Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Charles Esimone to anchor his appointments into various offices on merit and expertise.
It also called on him to prioritise staff insurance scheme, improved healthcare delivery, prompt payment of staff entitlements and completion of ongoing infrastructure projects in all three campuses of the university.
Speaking with newsmen in Awka, the Anambra state capital, the University’s branch Chairman of the Union, Mr Stephen Ufoaru, urged the in-coming helmsman to affect the right appointment of personnel to assist him if he must succeed in his assignment.
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We expect the new VC to get the right people that can deliver, employ people based on capability and shun nepotism, improve staff welfare, insurance for staff and completion of structures,’’ he said.
While pledging the support of the union, he told him to avoid acts capable of plunging his tenure into failure by appointing the wrong people into various offices.
We have people that can perform. He should ensure he doesn’t fall into the pitfall of past administrations who complained that people around them didn’t allow them to succeed,’’ Ufoaru said.
He, then, enjoined him to brace for challenges ahead, reminding him to be wary of the fact that academic achievement was different from administrative responsibilities especially in managing a higher institution.
We know he has made several achievements in the academics, but this is a bigger challenge and task. It is going to be a difficult task for him managing three campuses, professors from different fields.
But looking at his track record, I think he can do well. That is why we emphasize that he must appoint the right people to assist him if he must succeed,’’ he added
Also commenting on the emergence of the new Vice-Chancellor, the Students Union Government (SUG) President of the University, Mr Joseph Okafor, pledged the support of the union to the in-coming Vice-Chancellor.
We will give him maximum co-operation to enable him to succeed. Our expectations are that he will listen to us, see us as his own children and guild us alright,’’ he said.
He urged him to maintain the pace set by the out-going vice-chancellor by ensuring that the university remained free from cultism and all forms of student’s unrest.
In a related development, the National President of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Alumni Association, Professor Francis C. Ezeonu has congratulated the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Charles Esimone. Francis Ezeonu, who is a Professor of Environmental Biochemistry in the same university and the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Imo state, who also contested the position of Vice-chancellor, alongside 28 other Professors, that saw the emergence of Prof Charles Esimone as the incoming helmsman of the university.
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In a press release signed by the Secretary-General of the University Alumni Association, Mr Ejiofo Umegbogu, says the National president of the Association personally congratulated the incoming Vice-chancellor, soon after the screening process and had also forwarded a congratulatory him on behalf of the University Alumni Association.
According to the release, “this is a radical departure from the past selection processes where bickering, protests even litigations have characterised the appointment of Vice-Chancellors of the University, and indeed, most Universities in Nigeria”. A situation that was said to have led to “intense politicking and internecine strife within the University Community, leading to disruption of smooth academic activities, and the politicisation of the Ivory Tower”.
The Secretary-General described the gesture of felicitations as an act of statesmanship, which should be emulated by all Nigerians, especially, public office seekers.
Comrade Umegbogu, therefore, expressed hope that Prof Esimone would excel in
his new assignment as he takes over from the outgoing Vice-chancellor, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, with effect from June 4, 2019.
and then