Ex- NOUN VC threatens court over dissolution of tenure

A civil society organization under the aegis of Lawyers Alliance for the Defence of Democracy, has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami, over the dissolution of the tenure of the VC of National Open University, Vincent Tenebe.

In the petition dated February. 16, 2016, the lawyers called for the reversal of the sack of Prof. Tenebe.

National Co-ordinator of the group, Yusuf Zakari, Esq. also threatened court action if the federal government failed to rescind its decision on the removal of the NOUN VC.

The lawyers, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, also petitioned the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

The Pro-Chancellor of NOUN frowned at the appointment of Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano to replace Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe as VCs of NOUN.

 “Surprisingly, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who signed the afore said publication on behalf of Mr. President is from the academia and ought to appreciate the fact that each Federal University is established by an Act of the National Assembly.

“In the instant case, two major statutes provide the legal framework for the existence and governance of National Open University of Nigeria to wit; the establishing Act being the National Open University of Nigeria Act No. 6 of 1983 (now Cap N63, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) and Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act No. 11 of 1993, applicable to all Federal Universities in Nigeria, as amended by the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 1996 and further amended in 2003 and 2012, respectively.

“Section 3 (d) & (e) of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 1996 prescribes a 5 (Five) year single tenure for Vice-Chancellors of all Federal Universities on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the letter of appointment.

“It follows that the tenure system in Federal Universities is clearly distinguishable from that of the Civil Service. We are aware that the tenure of Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe is still subsisting as at the time he was purportedly removed on February 13, 2016. Moreover, Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe as Vice-Chancellor, unlike the Pro-Chancellor and Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, does not hold office at the pleasure of Mr. President.