– The People of Idoma have petitioned the Senate on the appointment of some principal officers for the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi
– The Senate committee assured it will investigate the appointment which the group referred to as lopsided
– The Senate also said it will summon Federal Character Commission to appear before it and explain its role in the appointments in the institution
The Senate also said it will summon Federal Character Commission to appear before it and explain its role in the appointments in the institution
The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges and Public Petitions has assured the people of Idoma that the appointment of the registrar of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue state will be investigated.
The committee’s decision is in response to a petition filed by the people of Idoma over their dissatisfaction on the lopsided appointments of principal officers and nominal staff of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
The Senate committee also said it will summon Federal Character Commission to appear before it and explain its role in the appointments in the institution.
The committee also assured that it will extend its time to enable the management of the university appear before it and respond to the petition.
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The people of Idoma had in a petition filed by Adoka Adaji, on behalf of ‘Opiatoha K’Idoma’, a foremost socio-cultural group in Idoma land accused the federal government of lopsided appointments at the university.
The group in the petition addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki were referred to the committee on ethics on Thursday, March 30.
Adaji and Yemi Itodo the acting spokesperson of the group at the hearing announced appearance on behalf of the petitioners.
They accused the Federal Character Commission ( FCC) of complicity in the appointment of the Registrar for the federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
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According to them, the commission had, through its letter dated 1st July 2016, and addressed to the vice chancellor of the university, rejected the request to grant the Certificate of Compliance for the appointment of Nyitse Helen Nguper as registrar of the institution.
The petitioners said letter, objected to the appointment of Nguper on the ground that the VC the deputy VC (admin) and bursar were all Tivs from Benue state.
They said such would be a breach of the Federal Character principle, if the Registrar was appointed from the same area.
“The commission, however, revised its decision and contradicted itself, when it issued a Certificate of Compliance No: FCC/CC/UJ/016/001 dated 29th July, 2017, that Mrs. Nyitse be appointed as Registrar; after the VC, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha and some Tiv elites visited the FCC headquarters, Abuja, the previous day,” the petitioners submitted.
The group also drew the attention of the Senate to the fact that, “aside the university having four of its principal officers from the Tiv speaking area of Benue state, Nyitse who was recently appointed as registrar, hails from the same local government area (Guma) with the vice chancellor.
“This is a grand plan by a few to destroy the institution with the people of the same ethnic group holding almost all the principal positions. This, in our opinion, is not healthy for proper accountability and also fair admission exercise, in a federal university.
Opiatoha K’Idoma also alleged that, “Since inception, the institution had had 4 Vice Chancellors from the Tiv area, in a succession, without considering the Idoma people.”
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“When the result of the interview conducted to appoint a new Registrar was released, the Tiv candidates were placed first and second, the Idoma candidate, Dr. John David Ujoh came third, while the candidate from Ekiti State was placed fourth. The placement of the candidates was deliberately done or designed to favour a Tiv candidate,” the petitioners said.
The petitioning group also faulted the composition of the recruitment panel which conducted interview for the Registrar applicants, stressing that, the panelist had four members from the Tiv speaking area as against only one Idoma.
In their prayers, they urged the Senate to revoke the appointment of Nyitse as registrar of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and order that John David Ujoh who was placed third in the interview be appointed.
They also suggested that any other person from any tribe from another state be appointed to reflect principle of federal character.
They also told the lawmakers to summon the Federal Character Commission and possibly reprimand it, for its complicity in the appointment of the registrar.
Watch this ZENITHBLOG.com video of Nigerians lamenting the administration of the All Progressives Congress:
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