FG bars acting VCs from contesting position of substantive VC

The Federal Government has announced that, henceforth, an acting Vice-Chancellor of a university will not be eligible to contest for the position of substantive Vice-Chancellor while still holding the acting appointment.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has accordingly approved the implementation of new policy guidelines on the eligibility criteria for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts in the country’s tertiary institutions.

He also directed the governing councils of universities to familiarise themselves with the criteria and guidelines for selecting Vice-Chancellors and other principal officers. The new policy guidelines apply to universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

For universities, the government has asked councils to adhere to Sections 3 to 6 of the University Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1993 (as amended in 2003 and 2012). For polytechnics, councils must refer to Section 7(1–6) of the Federal Polytechnics Act, 1979 (as amended in 1993). For colleges of education, Section 5(1–6) of the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 1986 (as amended in 1993) applies.

Dr. Alausa urged councils to study the guidelines for appointing Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts carefully.

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The Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, stated in Abuja that the directive aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to promoting equity, transparency, and integrity in the appointment processes of federal tertiary institutions.

She explained that the policy became necessary following a pattern of undue advantage observed over the years, in which officers serving in acting capacities often leveraged their positions to influence appointment outcomes—thereby compromising the fairness and transparency of the selection process.

“To eliminate this practice, ensure a level playing field for all qualified candidates, and strengthen institutional governance, the policy stipulates that any officer serving in an acting capacity as Vice-Chancellor, Rector, or Provost shall not be eligible to apply for the substantive position while still holding the acting appointment.

“However, in the interest of fairness, such officers may choose to recuse themselves from their acting positions before the expiration of their non-renewable six-month tenure, thereby becoming eligible to apply for the substantive roles.

“This policy is designed to complement the existing Federal Ministry of Education Guidelines for the Appointment of Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts (2013), along with all other extant regulations governing appointments in federal tertiary institutions.

“Governing Councils, managements, and relevant stakeholders are hereby requested to ensure strict compliance with the new directive. For clarity and ease of implementation, the policy document is enclosed as Annex I, while the 2013 Guidelines are enclosed as Annex II.

“The Ministry appreciates the continued dedication and cooperation of stakeholders in upholding good governance and maintaining the integrity of leadership appointment processes within the education sector.

“It is our belief that this policy will bring about the desired reforms and enhance public confidence in the selection of principal officers in our institutions,” the statement added.