The Federal Government has barred heads of tertiary institutions in an acting capacity from contesting to fill the same position.
According to reports, the new policy bars acting Vice Chancellors (VCs) of universities, Rectors of polytechnics, and Provosts of colleges from joining in the contest for substantive heads of the institutions.
In a statement released on Monday and signed by Boriowo Folasade, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa emphasized that individuals serving as acting Vice Chancellors, Rectors, or Provosts often exploit their interim positions to gain an unfair edge in the selection process, which undermines fairness and transparency.
To address this, Alausa announced that any acting official who intends to contest for a substantive position must step down from their acting role within six months to be eligible.
He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring transparency and improving quality in the tertiary education system.
The statement read: “As part of efforts by the Federal Ministry of Education to uphold equity, integrity, and transparency in the appointment process for federal tertiary institutions, Minister Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa has approved a new policy guiding the eligibility criteria for appointing Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts.
“This policy responds to a recurring issue where individuals in acting capacities use their positions to influence appointment outcomes, thereby disrupting the fairness of the process.
“To prevent this, ensure equal opportunities for all qualified candidates, and promote stronger institutional governance, the policy now mandates that acting Vice Chancellors, Rectors, or Provosts must relinquish their interim roles before applying for permanent positions. Specifically, they must step down within their six-month, non-renewable acting tenure to be considered eligible.
The policy complements the existing 2013 Federal Ministry of Education Guidelines on appointments, as well as other relevant regulations in the sector.
“The Ministry calls on Governing Councils, institutional management, and all stakeholders to adhere strictly to this directive.
“We appreciate stakeholders’ commitment to good governance and trust that this policy will bring meaningful reform, strengthen public confidence, and uphold the integrity of leadership appointments in our educational institutions.”