Crisis looms at Yar’adua varsity over VC’s appointment

Trouble started shortly after the immediate past governor of the state, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, appointed Prof. Funtua as VC – a week to the expiration of his administration.A source at the university confirmed to Daily Trust that a screening exercise was conducted by the governing council of the institute with about 12 professors in attendance.He […]

Trouble started shortly after the immediate past governor of the state, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, appointed Prof. Funtua as VC – a week to the expiration of his administration.
A source at the university confirmed to Daily Trust that a screening exercise was conducted by the governing council of the institute with about 12 professors in attendance.
He said: “Prof. Sani Mashi, Prof. Idris Isa Funtua, Prof Aminu Kado, Prof Ibrahim Sada, Prof Haruna Yusuf, Prof. Mansur Ibrahim, Prof Ibrahim Malumfashi, Prof Halima, and Prof Saulawa were among the attendants.”
 However, three weeks after the announcement of his appointment as new VC, Professor Funtua is yet to receive his appointment letter to enable him resume work due to serious administrative bottlenecks within the university.
It was learnt that some top management staff of the institution are not too pleased with the appointment and are finding ways to frustrate it.
Speaking with Daily Trust on why he was yet to assume office, Professor Funtua said “officially, I was told the chairman of the council is to sign the letter and I was told he is not around, there are hearsays all over on the case and most especially I’m not there in Katsina.”
When contacted for comment, the registrar of the university, Abdu Halliru, declined and referred our reporter to the university’s council chairman, Engr. Musa Abdullahi, who said the university was yet to appoint a vice chancellor.
He said: “The power to appoint a vice chancellor rests with the council and not the state governor. The council has not recommend names to the governor for approval.”
Already, an interested party, Mustafa Muhammad Malumfashi has gone to court seeking it to declare the appointment of Prof Isa Funtua unlawful, unwarranted, unconstitutional and null and void.
In a suit number KTH/21/2015, the petitioner is seeking a declaration that the governor of Katsina State has no power to appoint the vice chancellor of the university; rather such power rests with governing council.
Joined, in the suit are the governor of Katsina State, the attorney general of the state, the Governing Council of the Umaru Musa Yar’adua University and Professor Idris Isah Funtua.
He is also seeking for a prohibitive injunction restraining the 3rd defendant from confirming the 4th defendant or any other person appointed by the 1st defendant.
 On their part, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the university said it is reviewing the institution’s existing law with regards to appointment of vice chancellor.
The ASUU branch chairman, Dr Jamilu Shehu, said the union will soon make its position known on the matter.