The Edo State University, Ekpoma, and a group, Edo Consciousness, are at loggerheads over the continued stay in office by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Emmanuel Aluyor, after the expiration his two-term, eight-year tenure on November 28, 2023.
The group, in a statement by its protem Chairman, Johnny Ogbode, said the sit-tight posture of the VC is against the regulations of the National Universities Commission and vowed to resist it.
However, the registrar of the school, Habib Ekhalefo, said only the Governing Council and the Visitor to the school, which is the state governor, has the right to determine the issue of the tenure of the Vice Chancellor, describing the petitioners as interlopers, who have no business on the issue.
The statement by Edo Consciousness adds, “We, as a group, are against the continuous stay in office of the Vice Chancellor of Edo State University, Prof Emmanuel Aluyor, who has continued to stay in office after the expiration of his tenure.
“This is not tenable in law and we call on the relevant authorities to wade in to matter to forestall break down of law and order that may ensue if the situation is allowed to persist.
“The continuous stay of the VC in office has made it extremely difficult to find a suitable successors by the Governing Council of the institution. The Governing Council was expected to appoint an acting VC on November 29, 2023 and initiate the process of finding a substantive successor.”
Castigating the group for dabbling into a matter that does not concern it, the Registrar said only the governing council and the Visitor of the school, Governor Godwin Obaseki, can determine the tenure of the VC.
He added, “It is only the Governing Council and the visitor to the school which is the state governor that has the right to determine issue of tenure of the Vice Chancellor. The petitioners are interlopers, who has no business on the issue at stake.”
