University Governing Councils Now Bow To Highest Bidder To Appoint Vice-Chancellor, Says TETfund
Echono regretted that politicians’ sponsorship of the selection process of Vice Chancellors have led to “increasingly localising” university administration, prioritising personal interests over merit.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) has raised concerns about the politicisation and corruption involved in selecting Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian higher institutions.
The Executive Secretary of TETfund, Sunday Echono, stated this on Friday, while delivering the Convocation lecture at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) Imo State.
Echono regretted that politicians’ sponsorship of the selection process of Vice Chancellors have led to “increasingly localising” university administration, prioritising personal interests over merit.
He noted that many university staff members are sponsored by local politicians and community leaders, making the selection process overly competitive and lucrative for Governing Council members.
This issue is not new, as previous reports have highlighted corruption and extortion involving TETfund interventions.
To address this problem, Echono emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in the selection process.
He also advocated for decentralising TETfund activities to reduce the influence of politics and corruption. This move could help promote merit-based selections and reduce the impact of local politics on university administration.
“The selection process for principal officers is now riddled with corruption as competition is fierce and ruthless. Members of Governing councils view this assignment as the most lucrative aspect of their duties and often bow to the highest bidder.
“Principal officers exert enormous influence especially in procurement (Tender Board) and payments for projects, goods and services. Contractors have been known to sponsor candidates for Vice Chancellor in return for patronage,” Echono said.
