By Abigail Philip David
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Gombe State University (GSU) branch, has raised concerns over what it describes as repeated violations of the institution’s laws in the appointment of its Vice-Chancellor.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, ASUU criticized the appointment of Professor Sani Yauta as the acting Vice-Chancellor by Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, on October 16, 2024. The union claimed the governor disregarded the three candidates recommended by the university’s Governing Council on September 14, 2024.
According to the union, the GSU Establishment Law (2018) mandates that the Vice-Chancellor position be occupied for a single five-year term, with the Governing Council submitting three nominees to the visitor (the governor) for selection.
ASUU branch Chairperson, Suleiman Jauro, and Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, condemned the appointment of an acting Vice-Chancellor instead of confirming a substantive one, describing it as a clear violation of university regulations.
“The Council’s decision was not only a blatant breach of the university laws, but appointing an acting Vice-Chancellor also endangers the university’s operations,” Jauro stated.
The union further alleged that the government has re-advertised the Vice-Chancellor position, effectively discarding the previously concluded selection process. ASUU warned that this abrupt cancellation sets a negative precedent for Gombe State University’s governance.
“We urge respected traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to intervene and compel the government to honor the Council’s earlier recommendation and appoint a substantive Vice-Chancellor,” Jauro appealed.
ASUU also questioned the integrity of the ongoing process, expressing concern over how it would proceed without the Governing Council’s input—a critical component of the Vice-Chancellor appointment process.
Adding to their concerns, Jauro pointed out that the tenure of the current Governing Council will expire on January 17, 2025, just three days after the deadline for applications for the newly advertised Vice-Chancellor position.
This situation, ASUU argued, raises pressing questions:
– Can an expired Council continue overseeing the appointment process?
– Will a newly constituted Council pick up from where its predecessor left off?
– Could involving two different Councils in this process undermine the authority and effectiveness of the eventual appointee?
Jauro emphasized that the confusion surrounding the appointment was unnecessary and could have been avoided by adhering to the university’s legal framework.
“Our union believes this embarrassing situation was entirely preventable. Respecting the university’s laws would prevent a breakdown of order and discourage individuals from pursuing personal interests through unlawful means,” he stressed.
ASUU reiterated its call for the government to reconsider the Council’s original recommendations and appoint a substantive Vice-Chancellor to restore stability and credibility to Gombe State University.
