UNIOSUN suspends selection of new VC over court case

The Osun State University (UNIOSUN) in Osogbo has suspended the selection process for the appointment of its fourth vice-chancellor (VC) over an ongoing court case.

According to Premium Times, Yusuf Ali, pro-chancellor and chairman of UNIOSUN’s governing council, spoke on Tuesday at the 10th convocation ceremony of the varsity, which was held at its main campus in Osogbo.

The five-year tenure of Labode Popoola, the university’s incumbent VC, is expected to end on November 4.

Among the criteria to be met by academics vying to replace the outgoing VC is the possession of a Ph.D. certificate.

Applicants must also have a research gate score of 15.0 and 800 citations and publication of at least 50 research articles.

But stakeholders argued to the selection committee that the criteria are alien to the varsity’s laws and regulations.

Ali, who is a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the process has been put on hold following the decision of some concerned parties to approach the courts for intervention.

He said the ideal thing was to await the final decision of the court before the process could proceed.

“I must point out that I am aware that some members of staff felt that they have not been dealt with justly after seeing the advertisement that was placed for VC position and they have gone to court,” he was quoted as saying.

“And as a law-abiding institution and as people who believe in justice. In the last one month, the process for the appointment of a new VC has been suspended until the court speaks because we are law-abiding.”