Angry NMU staff decries breach of federal character in appointments of principal officers

By Monday Peters, Abuja

The concerned staff members of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko have expressed deep concern and dismay over what they described as abuse of federal character in the recent appointment of principal officers in the University.

The protesting staff accused the governing council chairman of plotting to appoint a vice chancellor from outside the university environment who may not be from the engineering or technology profession to administer the affairs of the university.

In a petition by the aggrieved concerned staff said the decision was made by the governing council chairman despite the fact that three qualified senior administrators within the University, including the Acting Registrar, a Deputy Registrar and two Principal Assistant Registrars (PARs), had applied for the position, adding that the Council, without transparent justification, dismissed their candidacies in favor of a candidate with no administrative record in a university registry.

According to them, the appointment was not only procedurally flawed but also demoralizing to career administrators who have sacrificed and contributed immensely to the development of the young and specialized University.

Attached is the petition.

PETITION BY CONCERNED STAFF MEMBERS OF THE NIGERIA MARITIME UNIVERSITY ON THE ALLEGED BREACH OF PROCEDURE AND FEDERAL CHARACTER IN THE APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS.

We, the undersigned concerned staff members of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, wish to express our deep concern and dismay over the recent actions of the Governing Council regarding the appointments of key Principal officers in the University.
It is with a profound sense of duty and commitment to the future of our university that we bring to your attention what we believe to be a violation of due process, disregard for internal capacity, and a breach of the Federal Character principle as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Recently, the Governing Council, in a controversial and irregular move, approved the appointment of a substantive Registrar from outside the University system, specifically, a former Head of Department of Mass Communication at Delta State University, Abraka, who is an academic staff. This decision was made despite the fact that three qualified senior administrators within the University, including the Acting Registrar, a Deputy Registrar and two Principal Assistant Registrars (PARs), had applied for the position. The Council, without transparent justification, dismissed their candidacies in favor of a candidate with no administrative record in a university registry.

This appointment is not only procedurally flawed but also demoralizing to career administrators who have sacrificed and contributed immensely to the development of this young, specialized University. It reflects a disregard for institutional memory, career progression, and internal human resource development principles that are foundational to the civil service and university system.

Of even greater concern is the purported/rumored plan by the Council to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor from outside the University, again from Delta State, and from a discipline that is not in alignment with the specialized focus of the university. Information has it that the rumored candidate is a professor of Microbiology/Food Technology, a field with no department of domicile or direct relevance to the academic mandate of the Nigeria Maritime University.
Should this appointment be affected, the University would, for the first time in its history, have three out of its four principal officers coming from a single state (Delta State). This is a clear contravention of the Federal Character principle, which mandates equitable representation/distribution of Nigeria’s diverse regions in public appointments. Such an imbalance not only undermines national unity and institutional fairness, but also breeds discontent, frustration, and a sense of alienation among staff from other regions.

We must ask: can a university built on compromised appointments and the marginalization of its own personnel sustain excellence and national relevance?
We the undersigned are not motivated by personal interest, but by a sincere desire to preserve the integrity, equity, and meritocracy that should define the Nigeria Maritime University. We believe in this university and have labored tirelessly for its growth. We cannot, in good conscience, remain silent while its future is compromised for political convenience and personal gain.

We respectfully call on the Honorable Minister of Education, the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chairman Federal Character Commission, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and other relevant oversight bodies to urgently investigate these developments and ensure that:
1. All appointments into principal offices follow due process, are transparent, and prioritize internal capacity where merit permits.
2. The Federal Character principle is strictly adhered to in all appointments.
3. The leadership of the University reflects its specialized maritime mandate.
4. Any act of undue external influence or breach of statutory procedure is investigated and sanctioned.

We remain committed to the progress of Nigeria Maritime University and to the ideals of justice, fairness, and institutional integrity. We trust that our concerns will be given the serious and prompt consideration they deserve.

Cc:
Hon. Minister of Education
Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission
Head of Civil Service of the Federation