Criticisms has continued to trail the recent appointment of an acting Vice Chancellor of the state owned Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State by the visitor of the school, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
This new appointment has caused a no love lost between the Kwara State Government and the Governing council of the institution as Governor Ahmed’s action ws seen as unconstitutional, mischievous and illegal by the governing board of the school.
In a Press release made available to our correspondent, the Governing council of institution said it dissociates itself from the appointment of Prof. Kenneth S. Adeyemi as the acting Vice-Chancellor of KWASU and that the directive that the incumbent Vice -Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed NaAllah should proceed on terminal leave is un acceptable.
Professor Saka Nuru, Chairman Governing Council, KWASU who signed the release on behalf of the council said that the incumbent VC is yet to complete his tenure which expires on 27th July, 2019 hence the terminal leave is unconstitutional.
However, speaking on behalf of government, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Abdullahi Alikinla, explained that the governors action and directive was in order.
Alkinla said: “Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed acted within the law setting up Kwara State University (KWASU) in directing Professor Abdulrasheed Naalah, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, to proceed on terminal leave and appointing Professor Kenneth Adeyemi to replace him in an acting capacity.”
The Commissioner stated this on Tuesday in Ilorin,expressing that the Governor Ahmed was fully compliant with the power conferred on him as the Visitor to KWASU in asking Prof. Naalah to proceed on terminal leave since his tenure expires in July 2019.
He said this was in keeping with academic practice which mandates incumbent Vice Chancellors to embark on such leave within 90 days to the end of their tenure.
Alikinla quoted from the Kwara State University Law 2009 (as amended) to buttress his point.
”Section 9 states that the Vice-Chancellor may be removed from office by the Visitor for good cause after consultation with the council”.
Elaborating further, the commissioner stressed that Governor Ahmed followed due process by consulting with the University’s council members including its Chairman, Prof Saka Nuhu, Alhaji Kola Yusuf, Alhaji Oba Aluko Abdulqadir, Mrs Ikeoluwa Orunmuyi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yusuf Baba Wahab, among others, prior to appointing Prof. Adeyemi to replace the outgoing Vice Chancellor.
The commissioner further emphasised that the series of false claims about KWASU that are currently circulating on social media is intended to cause public disaffection and should be disregarded.
