By Mattew Denis
The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the appointment of Prof. Kenneth Adeyemi, as the acting Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Barr. Abdullahi Alikinla, who announced Prof. Adeyemi’s appointment in a statement on Tuesday, also directed the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah to hand over to the acting Vice Chancellor and proceed on terminal leave as his tenure expires in July 2019.
The commissioner said the acting VC is to take charge of responsibilities relating to the smooth running of the institution in accordance with the law establishing it.
Alikinla said that Governor Ahmed took the decisions in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Kwara State University Law 2009 as amended which empowers the Visitor to the University to appoint and remove the Vice Chancellor for good cause and following due consultations.
…Governing Council dissociates self from appointment
The Governing Council of the Kwara State University, (KWASU), Malete, on Tuesday, dissociated itself from the recent appointment of Prof. Kenneth Adeyemi as the acting Vice Chancellor of the institution.
The Governing Council in a statement signed by the Chairman, Prof. Saka Nuru also frowned at the directive that the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah should proceed on terminal leave while he is yet to complete his tenure which expires on 27th July, 2019.
The statement read thus;
“The Governing council hereby dissociates itself from the recent appointment of Prof. Kenneth S. Adeyemi as the acting Vice-Chancellor of KWASU and the directive that the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah should proceed on terminal leave while he is yet to complete his tenure which expires on 27th July, 2019.
“This directive is not in tune with the University’s law and is going to lead to distraction from the Rain Semester examination and the process of appointment of principal officers that are currently in progress.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Barr. Abdullahi Alkinla has debunked reports that the Governing Council of KWASU has rejected the appointment of Prof. Adeyemi, saying ‘nobody can stop government’s directive’.
Speaking with our reporter on the telephone last night, the Commissioner said, “There is nowhere the university Governing Council rejected the Acting VC. What you are seeing on social media is false accusation of the council chairman. In fact the council has denied the online letter concerning the development.
“They confessed that the letter of rejection was falsely written targeted at tarnishing the image of the council chairman. It is the Governor that appointed the Governing Council so they don’t have power than the Governor.
“If you look at the Kwara state University laws amended in 2009, you will find out that the visitor (Governor) has power to remove the VC but in this case, the outgoing VC wasn’t removed neither was he sacked, he was only asked to proceed on terminal leave, you know his tenure is ending by July. So he’s on terminal leave for three months at the discretion of the Governor.
On protest by students of the institution over the change in leadership, Alikinla said, “The protesters are not students but hoodlums hired to distract school activities. They don’t have the right to stop the acting VC from resuming office.
“What power did they have to stop the VC when the Governor has approved his appointment? So on what grounds and basis did they have to stop him?”
Speaking further, the Commissioner said some of the protesters without any form of identification cards have been arrested by the police and investigation into the matter is ongoing.
