By Fatima Muhammad
The Staff Unions, Federal Co-operative Colleges have urged the Minster of Agriculture to swiftly intervene in ensuring that the vacant position of the College Provost is filled up, as required by the law establishing it.
The Staff under the aegis of FCC Concerns Union, lead by Comrade Usman I. Ibrahim, made the call in an exclusive interview in Jos.
He said: “We are aware of the fact that the tenure of office of all the Provosts of the Co-operative Colleges and those of Federal Colleges of Land Resources, in the country have since elapsed and advertisment for qualified candidates to fill in their vacancies have also been made by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), on 14 February, 2024, as directed by the Minister.
“We are equally aware of the fact that the Executive Secretary of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, has on the 14 Feb, 2024, in a letter, “Ref: No. ARCM/A/O2/S.5/VY,” notified the Minister of the advertisement placed on two national newspapers as required by the ARCN law, 2021, which advertisement have attracted qualified applicants, but till now the Executive Secretary has not call for interviews to fill the vacancies,” he said.
According to him, they are concerned because all academic and non academic activities that would advanced the Colleges are put to stand still.
He further said the Minister has since given directives for the replacement of the Provosts, after due process, “but the ARCN has not complied with the directives.”
“It our firm views that the Executive Secretary should lawfully complied with the directives; call for interviews and appoints qualified applicants as Provosts of the respective Colleges,” he appealed.
