THE House of Representatives is to investigate the role played by the Governing Council in the recent appointment of Vice Chancellor for the University of Abuja.
This decision emanated from a motion moved by Hon. Pally Iriase (APC-Edo), which was unanimously adopted in Abuja on Thursday.
Members resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to carry out the investigation and report its findings and recommendations to the House within seven days.
Moving the motion, Iriase held that there had been discontentment over the appointment of the new vice chancellor.
According to him, “This is fast assuming ethno-religious coloration and may spell doom for the university”.
Iriase said the discontentment stemmed from alleged injustice, discrimination and unfairness in the processes leading to the said appointment.
He said candidates who came first and second with 80 per cent and 70 per cent were dropped for the candidate who scored a little above 60 per cent.
The lawmaker further said that a situation where a third placed candidate was chosen in preference to the other two front runners required convincing explanation from the university’s Governing Council.
He said there was the urgent need to stop the ugly development arising from brazen disregard for merit, fairness and justice from the Nigeria university system.
“Unless steps are taken to courageously address the discontentment in the university of Abuja community, the matter may lead to avoidable unrest,” Iriase said.
