Concerned UTAG-GIJ members petition on dev’t in UNIMAC-GIJ

Concerned UTAG-GIJ members petition on dev’t in UNIMAC-GIJ

Concerned UTAG-GIJ members have petitioned on development in the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC-GIJ).

Portions of the petition said on December 1, 2022, a secular was shared from the office of the Institute’s registrar on key appointments that kicked into motion Act 1039, The act that establishes the University of Media, Arts and Communication, now UniMAC.

The integration thus far has been characterised by a lack of communication, clarity, and lapses in structural, administrative, and procedural issues, specifically in the case of UniMAC-GIJ.

The following paragraphs explain our assertion: Unlike the other constituent Institutes (GIL, NaFTI), it does appear that UniMAC-GIJ is denied the institutional autonomy enshrined in the ACT. Whereas the rectorates of other constituent institutes remain the same in structure and operation, in the case of GIJ, the rectorate appears ceremonial and without authority relative to decision-making and institutional-level direction. It appears that the GIJ rectorate remains rather an appendage of the registry and chancellery, which is never the case with other constituent institutes. To the extent that the VC continues to chair even Academic Board Meetings at the Institute level, and ONLY for GIJ.

“Relative to the above, indeed, there is a clear indication that the funds of GIJ have sponsored all the activities of UniMAC thus far. While that might not be illegal per se, probably because the act consolidates all assets unto the holding university, good corporate governance practices require, first, a participatory process including financial commitments by all constituent institutes towards the merger process and its attendant integration. The situation as you may attest is leading to high disquiet and apprehension among the rank and file of both academic and non-academic staff. The preponderant analogy is that the merger has become and is increasingly becoming an existential threat to the GIJ we work for and may deteriorate our conditions of service.

“We would like to remind your good offices that times without number has the former rector and now Ag. Vice Chancellor reminded the convocation about the institute’s dire financial situation. For such reasons, faculties have intensified strategic revenue mobilisation efforts manifesting in the several programmes accredited and at various levels of accreditation processes.”

Below is the full petition…

PETITION ON DEVELOPMENTS IN UNIMAC-GIJ

On December 1, 2022, a secular was shared from the office of the Institute’s registrar on key appointments that kicked into motion Act 1039, The act that establishes the University of Media, Arts and Communication, now UniMAC. The integration thus far has been characterised by a lack of communication, clarity, and lapses in structural, administrative, and procedural issues, specifically in the case of UniMAC-GIJ. The following paragraphs explain our assertion.

1. Unlike the other constituent Institutes (GIL, NaFTI), it does appear that UniMAC-GIJ is denied the institutional autonomy enshrined in the ACT. Whereas the rectorates of other constituent institutes remain the same in structure and operation, in the case of GIJ, the rectorate appears ceremonial and without authority relative to decision-making and institutional-level direction. It appears that the GIJ rectorate remains rather an appendage of the registry and chancellery, which is never the case with other constituent institutes. To the extent that the VC continues to chair even Academic Board Meetings at the Institute level, and ONLY for GIJ.
2. Relative to the above, indeed, there is a clear indication that the funds of GIJ have sponsored all the activities of UniMAC thus far. While that might not be illegal per se, probably because the act consolidates all assets unto the holding university, good corporate governance practices require, first, a participatory process including financial commitments by all constituent institutes towards the merger process and its attendant integration. The situation as you may attest is leading to high disquiet and apprehension among the rank and file of both academic and non-academic staff. The preponderant analogy is that the merger has become and is increasingly becoming an existential threat to the GIJ we work for and may deteriorate our conditions of service.
3. We would like to remind your good offices that times without number has the former rector and now Ag. Vice Chancellor reminded the convocation about the institute’s dire financial situation. For such reasons, faculties have intensified strategic revenue mobilisation efforts manifesting in the several programmes accredited and at various levels of accreditation processes. These efforts appear rather predictably wasteful as the revenue thereof may instead go into funding a merger that has no reward but rather takes away from the merged and its key stakeholders.
4. The foregoing begs a simple question, if the Ag. VC and Ag. Registrar were appointed from elsewhere and not from any of the constituent institutes, will the situation have been different? Predictably, it would have been a case of territorialism and protectionism.
5. We also note with contempt the exclusion and lack of representation of the UTAG leadership on the interim governing councils. This smacks of disregard for the teaching force and flies in the face of the principles of stakeholder engagement.
6. It also appears that the UniMAC Ag. Registrar performs the day-to-day administrative duties at GIJ, whereas the case is not the same in the other constituent institutions. There is the need to immediately appoint a GIJ registrar to take charge of the day-to-day duties of the institute.
7. As indicated earlier, the current arrangement is shrouded in secrecy, lacks transparency, it is completely uncollaborative and manifestly autocratic.

We are by this letter appealing to your good office to call for an immediate UTAG meeting to seek to forge a unified way forward and to seek, among others, the following redress:

1. A complete empowerment of the GIJ rectorate, which means, restoring that institutional authority and mandate at all fronts, especially financial administration, as is the case of GIL and NaFTI and as envisaged by the UniMAC Act.
2. A detailed ROADMAP of activities & timelines for seamless, synergistic, reasonable, ethical, and legal integration of the three institutes. The roadmap, when well developed and takes into consideration all operational areas of the university and its institutes and how their integration shall be rolled out with reasonable timelines, may clear up all the seeming tension and uncertainty, especially from GIJ. Maybe an ad-hoc committee for such a purpose may help.
3. A rather strategic and consultative approach in drafting the statutes of the University, and must, in all sense and clarity, ensure the constituent institutes’ autonomy provided for in the act.
4. The financial arrangements between the holding university and constituent institute as may be provided for in a financial and accounting manual under consideration or being prepared, must be subjected to thorough consultation and examination. If even it requires that the services of a lawyer and financial consultants are sought in this regard, UTAG must strongly give the same the highest consideration.

Conclusively, good corporate governance is vital in organizational science. How can one assume a higher authority and, while a suitable replacement, in this instance, a deputy assumes the position as a successor, for no apparent reason, authority in all sense and purpose remain in the predecessor? Who supervises who in this case, and how does such an arrangement ensure probity and accountability?

We call for immediate action, especially on the labour front, to bring some sanity to bear. We hope our plea and relief are met with the urgency it deserves.

We count on your commitment and the dictates of your oath of office.

Thank you.

Concerned UTAG-GIJ Members.

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