Barring any last minute hitches including the consideration of the security reports on the contestants, a new vice-chancellor is expected to be appointed next week for the University of Abuja. AUGUSTINE OKEZIE takes a look at the likely challenges the new appointee might face
Uniabuja Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of universities Dr Ben Ugheoke, fired the first salvo on the myriads of expectations on the new helmsman when he urged him to toe the part of sanity, ensure due process, team work and transparency in the handling of affairs
The new vice chancellor is taking over a beleaguered university troubled on all fronts by internal academic strife, mismanagement of resources and the steady decimation of institutions that hitherto acted as strong revenue generating base.
Addressing internal strife
UNIABUJA is particularly notorious for courting issues that do not make for cohesion among stakeholders and which couldn’t guarantee a hitch free academic year either.
Barely six months after the Nigerian public University teachers (ASUU), suspended a nation-wide strike that paralyzed the University system for more than five months, the Academic Staff Union of Universities – UNIABUJA branch is currently on an indefinite strike over issues that the union termed “developments in the university.”
The strike which began on June 2, 2014 started few days to the commencement of 2nd semester examination. Briefing newsmen on the issue, the Chairman of ASUU –UNIABUJA branch, Dr Ben Ugheoke said, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Abuja rose from her Congress with a painful resolution to commence with immediate effect, a comprehensive and indefinite strike action and since then ASSU – UNIABUJA members have been on strike’ Dr. Ben also noted that the issues that called for the strike were already in the public domain.
He said ‘’The matters that led to the industrial action were really not new, as they have been issues for discussion, through writings and oral communications, with the Vice Chancellor and the University of Abuja Governing Council adding that all efforts, agitations and communicated worries of the union have remained unattended to in a manner that seem to suggest a non-existent administration’’.
Resolving disputes
Addressing the concerns of the unions and ensuring undisputed harmony amongst organizations located within the confines of the university should be the immediate concern of the new vice chancellor.
The new vice chancellor should endeavor to open up lines of communication between him and the university community. There should be a virile mechanism for ventilating burning issues and receiving needed attention. Such atmospheres like regular consultations and stakeholders’ meetings as well as exploring opportunities offered by social gatherings and meetings should not be ignored.
A major landmine that rocked Adelabu’s administration is the penchant to run ‘’a one man show’’, isolating the unions from a participatory governance and ignoring completely anything that has to do with transparency and due process.
‘’If he can ensure due process, transparency and objectivity in administration, he will not have any problem with us’’, the unions assured
Rebuilding decayed infrastructures
Infrastructural and institutional decay has remained an endemic challenge facing the university which the new vice chancellor should tackle as soon as he assumed office. University of Abuja appears to be the only higher institution in the country without dignified structures for classrooms, hostel accommodation, senate building and the likes. The structures that are presently on ground or undergoing construction are less than glorified edifices, with no aesthetic landscape befitting a university environment.
Resuscitating moribund institutions is another major challenge awaiting the attention of the new vice chancellor. Right now the Post graduate programmes of the university, the distance learning, sandwich, as well the diploma and certificate programmes which once served as strong revenue generating base for the university are fast losing their existence.
Similarly the admission processes which is now traded at the Gwagwalada open market to the highest bidders needed to be restructured to give them the required credibility. There should be a functional committee that handles all admission matters and the VC should not be personally involved.
University of Abuja had long desired the proverbial ‘’fresh air’’, and it is only the incoming vice chancellor and his team that can provide that.
