University administrators have said unilateral appointments into key academic offices contradict established governance procedures across Nigerian universities.
The administrators, who reaffirmed strict compliance with Conditions of Service, made the assertion in separate telephone interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Akure.
Registrars and senior university officials said appointments of Deans, Provosts and Heads of Department must follow clearly defined electoral processes contained in institutional laws.
Mr Muftau Ibrahim, Registrar of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), said elections into such positions were conducted according to approved university regulations, while every staff received copies of the Scheme and Conditions of Service.
“So, in the Scheme and Conditions of Service, the registrar serves as returning officer during faculty elections and officially declares winners after transparent votings.
“Even where only one professor exists in a faculty, elections must still hold before such professor can emerge as the dean.
“The lone candidate must secure at least 60 per cent of total votes cast before being declared elected into office.
“Meanwhile, where a lone professor reportedly scores only ten per cent, it forces the vice-chancellor to appoint an acting dean temporarily,” he said.
The FUOYE Registrar, therefore, said vice-chancellors lacked powers to make unilateral substantive appointments where qualified professors were available for democratic elections.
According to him, acting deans may only be appointed where no professor exists within a faculty, and such appointments last one year.
Ibrahim maintained that FUOYE had never violated its Conditions of Service or manipulated elections into key academic offices.
Also, Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo, Director of Public Communication and Protocol at Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), described unilateral decisions within universities as practically impossible.
Adebanjo said FUTA recently constituted a broad-based committee to review its Conditions of Service in line with current administrative realities.
He explained that the committee includes academic staff, non-academic staff and labour union representatives to ensure inclusiveness and acceptability.
“University decisions pass through several statutory bodies including Governing Council, Senate and Committee of Deans before implementation.
“Academic matters require Senate concurrence, while financial and administrative issues must receive council approval.
“Membership of university councils cut across government appointees, senate representatives, labour unions and alumni associations,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Kassim Babamale, Registrar of Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun (FUHSI), also affirmed strict compliance with Conditions of Service provisions.
Babamale said appointments of deans and provosts followed electoral procedures conducted by Faculty Boards and College Academic Boards.
He explained that faculty officers or college secretaries conduct elections on behalf of the registrar under established university guidelines.
“Where only one valid nomination is received, the candidate is formally presented for ratification at academic board meetings,” he said.
He said elections becomes mandatory whenever two or more qualified candidates contest available academic leadership positions.
“Candidates with highest votes emerge elected, while tied results require immediate fresh elections among affected candidates.
Meanwhile, deans serve two-year tenures while provosts hold office for four years beginning from Aug.1 after election,” he said.
The university administrators maintained that adherence to Conditions of Service remains essential for transparency, institutional stability and democratic governance within Nigerian universities.