Prof Olayemi Akinwumi, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja (FUL) has commented the Federal government for suspending the establishment of more universities for seven years.
Akinwumi gave the commendation while speaking with newsmen in Lokoja on Thursday.
The VC described the government’s decision as apt and commendable, especially in the education secror.
Accordi to him, the period will enable the government concentrate on developing the existing universities.
“University system is capital intensive, we therefore expect that within the seven years period, government will concentrate on developing new universities like FUL, which is battling with so many things, yet the funds is not there, ” he said.
The VC also disclosed that close to 2000 applicants are jostling for 350 available vacancies at the university following a window opened for it to employ more personnel by the office of Director-General, Budget.
Akinwumi said that the interview of applicants, which began on Tuesday was opened to the general public.
“We intentionally refused to short list names so that people won’t read meanings into the exercise. We have almost 2,000 applicants jostling for the 350 vacant positions here.
“We have been given the opportunity to employ 350 personnel, divided into two main sections, Academic and Non-academic. This allocation is for 2024, ” he said.
He explained that the academic has 253 personnel including, Professors (45), Readers (14), Senior Lecturers (60), Lecturer I (8), Lecturer II (47), Assistant Lecturer (57), and Graduate Assistant (22).
The VC said the Non-academic staff vacancy has only 89 personnel including, Chief Head Officer I (1), Physical Programmer I (1), Administrative Officer I (1) and Administrative Assistant (2).
Others are Higher Executive Officer (1), Accountant II (1), Higher Library Officer (11), Higher Technical Officer (1), Programme/System Analyst (1), Technologist II (45), and Data Processing Officer/Confidential Secretary (2)
He noted that Chief Clerical Officer (4), Data Analysis/Secretary (3), Assistant Executive Officer (2), Computer Operator (1), Senior Artisan (1), Assistant Suppervisor (4), Senior Driver Mechanic (1), Lab. Attendant (1), Chief Portal (5) were also available.
According to him, Eight Medical Personnel, including Medical Officer (2), Optometrist (1), Medical Officer (2) Pharmacists (2), Medical Lab. Scientist (1) will be employed too.
He said that the instructions given to the university on the employment read, “You’re employ to comply strictly with the approved cadre, number and Grade Levels”.
“We have decided that 75 per cent of those to be employed will go for our new programmes – MBBS, Nursing, Pharmacy, Medical Lab, Architecture, Building Engineering, Law and Agric Engineering.
“This is because we need more than one 1, 000 personnel to help take care of our new programmes in the university, which had grown from four faculties to 12 faculties.
“The management of FUL is grateful to the federal government for the opportunity given to the university to employ personnel that could help cover the gabs, ” he said.