Education minister orders UNIUYO to revise VC advert amidst discrimination claims

 The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has intervened in the ongoing dispute at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), directing the institution to immediately withdraw its current advertisement for the Vice-Chancellor position.

The Minister has mandated the university to publish a revised version that ensures inclusivity and does not exclude any qualified candidates.

This directive comes in response to a strong protest and strike threat issued by clinical lecturers at the university, operating under the umbrella of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN).

The association had decried what it termed “discriminatory criteria” embedded within the selection process for the top academic office.

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The core of the lecturers’ concern lies with the qualification requirements outlined in the initial advertisement, which they argue unfairly disqualify medical professionals holding fellowships from being considered eligible for the Vice-Chancellor role.

In a memo dated June 13, 2025, and addressed to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of UNIUYO, MDCAN explicitly warned of impending industrial action if the contentious advertisement was not promptly amended to reflect a more equitable and inclusive stance.

The Minister’s intervention now appears to have preempted the planned strike, offering a pathway for resolution.