The Federal Government has directed outgoing vice chancellors in federal universities to nominate their deputies to temporarily serve as acting vice-chancellors.

This is contained in a letter conveyed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to the outgoing ice-chancellors, dated May 28, 2024, in Abuja on Wednesday.

The letter signed by the acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, said the move was prompted by a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the letter, the ministry duly notified the commission of the end of tenure of some vice-chancellors.

It said the appointment of the acting vice-chancellors should be done through the recommendations of the universities’ senates as the soon-to-be inaugurated governing councils would appoint acting vice-chancellors after their inauguration.

The letter reads: “I write, further to previous communication Ref. No. NUC/ES/138/Vol. 65/88 and dated May 27, 2024, to convey the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education, vide its letter Ref. No. FME/TE/CỰ/130/T6/458 and dated May 28, 2024.

“To the effect that Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities, who are rounding up their tenures, are to nominate, through the recommendation of their Senates, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor that will oversee the office of the Vice-Chancellor in a temporary capacity.

“The Governing Councils, after their inauguration, will appoint Acting Vice-Chancellors for a period not less than six months, during which they will commence the process of appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellors.

“This circular takes pre-eminence over our earlier communication on the same subject.

“Please accept the assurances of my highest considerations, always.”