By A civil society group has petitioned the Federal Ministry of Education to suspend the ongoing process for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor for the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State.
The group accused Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, of attempting to influence the selection process in favour of his brother, Dr Benjamin Kefas, whom they claim does not meet the statutory requirements for the position.
In a petition signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Bulus Zakari, the group alleged that the governor was scheming to secure the office for his brother despite what it described as insufficient academic credentials.
According to the petitioners, there is no verifiable record showing that Benjamin Kefas has attained the rank of professor within the Nigerian university system—a mandatory qualification for appointment as Vice-Chancellor.
The petition reviewed his academic background, noting that he holds a B.Pharm, MSc, and PhD in Pharmacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, and Vrije University, Brussels, Belgium.
While acknowledging that he is a research scientist, educator, and writer who has served as an Assistant Professor of Neuro-oncology at the University of Virginia, the group maintained that these credentials do not qualify him for the top administrative post in a federal university in Nigeria.
“Our concern is not personal but purely institutional,” the petition stated. “We are committed to ensuring that the appointment process remains transparent, competitive, merit-based, and in full compliance with the statutory requirements governing the selection of Vice-Chancellors in federal universities.”
The group emphasized that the position requires a candidate to be a full professor with at least 10 years of experience, proven integrity, and strong administrative competence.
They further argued that available records only show a “Benjamin Kefas” serving as an Assistant Professor in Neurology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, with no evidence of prior leadership roles such as Head of Department, Dean, or Director within any university system.
The petitioners also raised concerns over the integrity of the selection process, alleging that out of about 40 applicants, 36 were screened out, leaving only four candidates—three reportedly from Taraba State and one from Adamawa State.
This, they argued, casts doubt on the fairness and transparency of the exercise.
The group called on the Federal Government to intervene urgently to prevent what it described as a potential industrial crisis at the university.
They urged the Ministry of Education to conduct an independent review of the screening process, verify the qualifications of all shortlisted candidates, and ensure that no political interference undermines the autonomy of the university’s governing council.
“We respectfully request the Ministry to safeguard the integrity of the process in line with the Universities Autonomy Act and reassure staff, students, and stakeholders that merit and due process will determine the final outcome,” the petition added.
The petitioners warned that failure to address the alleged irregularities could damage the credibility of the institution and erode public confidence in the nation’s university system.
