The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has ordered the Vice Chancellor and other principal officers of the State University, Abakaliki, Francis Idike, to immediately vacate their seats having exhausted their eight-year tenures as stipulated in the 2016 EBSU amendment law 005 of 2016.
Shortly after assenting to the law at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House Abakaliki, Mr. Umahi said with the new law in place, the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor and other principal officers are expected to vacate the offices on or before November 26.
Mr. Umahi expressed concern with the five-year two terms contained in the previous law. He said any Vice Chancellor who spends 10 years in office may become inefficient.
The governor however said that the amended law allows a vice chancellor to remain in office after 70 years of age.
Governor Umahi urged the institution’s management to find ways to downsize the staff strength in the school to enable them meet up with the economic realities in the country.
“When you look at the staff strength of other tertiary institutions in the South East, you will realise that what we have in our own institution outweighs that of others,” he said.
Mr. Umahi frowned at the alleged harassment of members of the University staff and students by the host community, and mandated the Secretary to the State Government, Bernard Odoh, Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Sunday Inyima, and the Senior Special Assistant on Security, Kenneth Ugbala, to mobilize policemen to disperse all illegal occupants in the school’s land.

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