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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of teaching and non-teaching staff of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, has urged the institution’s Governing Council to appoint a qualified internal candidate as the next Provost.
The appeal was contained in a letter jointly signed by Comrade Agbo Chidi, Chairman of COEASU; Dr. Chukwuebuka Obi, Chairman of SSUCOEN; and Comrade Stanley Mbah, Chairman of NASU; and addressed to the Chairman of the Governing Council through the Registrar and Secretary to the Council.
The unions argued that appointing an internal candidate would ensure continuity in leadership, strengthen institutional stability and sustain the developmental gains recorded by the college.
According to the letter, staff members who have spent years serving in the institution possess a better understanding of its unique character, challenges, values and long-term aspirations than candidates from outside the college.
The unions noted that the college has been led by external provosts for the past 16 years, insisting that the institution now has competent and experienced academics capable of providing effective leadership.
They maintained that an internal candidate would have a proven commitment to the institution’s growth, understand its academic and administrative culture, build on existing policies without disrupting ongoing reforms and enjoy the confidence of staff, students and other stakeholders.
“We firmly believe that we have ably qualified intellectuals within the FCE Eha-Amufu College system that can take the College to the next level of its progress,” the unions stated.
While acknowledging the Governing Council’s responsibility to conduct a transparent, merit-based and competitive selection process, the unions appealed to members of the council to give due consideration to the strategic advantages of choosing an internal candidate.
They argued that the college is at a critical stage of its development, making the choice of its next Provost crucial to its future direction.
The workers expressed confidence that the Governing Council would make a decision that reflects the collective aspirations of the college community by appointing an internal candidate to lead the institution for the next five years.
