The Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA) has rejected the appointment of Prof. Jeremiah Jonathan Atungwu as the Provost/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, describing the move as a violation of laid down eligibility criteria and a threat to the integrity of the agricultural education system.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Jos on Thursday, the Acting National President of ASUCA, Comr. Williams Manggoel, expressed shock over the appointment, noting that the vacancy advertisement published in the “Nigerian Tribune” of November 15, 2024, clearly stated that only Assistant Directors, Associate Professors, or Principal Lecturers from National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) were eligible to apply.
“The said University Professor was not qualified for the position based on the advertisement and shouldn’t have been shortlisted, let alone appointed,” Manggoel said. “This appointment is a breach of procedure and a slap on the face of professionals within the system who have devoted their careers to agricultural education.”
ASUCA recalled that in 2020, it had written to the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), objecting to the appointment of university professors as Provosts/CEOs in Federal Colleges of Agriculture.
This advocacy, the union noted, had led to a consensus that such leadership positions be reserved for individuals within NARIs and FCAs—institutions more aligned with the unique mission and challenges of agricultural colleges.
The union warned that appointing university professors like Prof. Atungwu to head FCAs could lead to brain drain, low staff morale, and the disruption of the career progression pipeline within agricultural institutions.
It also decried the recent advertisement for a similar position at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, which listed “Associate Professor” as a minimum qualification—again perceived as an attempt to pave way for university professors.
ASUCA further called for the immediate reversal of Prof. Atungwu’s appointment and demanded that any new appointment be made strictly among eligible candidates from FCAs and NARIs who had attended the interview.
It also urged authorities to correct future advertisements to reflect the specific mandate and autonomy of the agricultural education system.
According to Manggoel, “Colleges of Agriculture are distinct in vision, mission, and structure. Their leadership must emerge from within the system to maintain this identity and avoid unnecessary tension or instability.”
The union reaffirmed its commitment to defending the professional integrity of its members and ensuring that due process is upheld in all appointments affecting the sector.
