Professor Attahiru Jega, the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been appointed pro-chancellor and chairman of council of the Plateau State University.
Former INEC chair, Prof Attahiru Jega
Simon Lalong, the governor of Plateau state, approved the appointment as part of his efforts to address the protracted challenges facing the university and to reposition it for better productivity.
According to a press statement signed by the governor’s director of press affairs, Nanle Emmauel, the appointment takes effect from August 14, 2015, and aimed at “repositioning the institution for effective educational training and research in line with international best practices.”
Governor Lalong has also approved the immediate reinstatement of former vice chancellor of the university, Professor Danjuma Sheni, who was disengaged by his predecessor, Senator Jonah Jang, as the substantive vice chancellor of the university.
“Also the governor has reaffirmed the appointment of the pioneer and current chancellor of the university, The Son of Ogbomosho Land, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajegundade,” the statement added.
In a recent interview, Jega has spoken about his return to the classroom and how the standard of elections in Nigeria has been improved by the introduction of the card reader and permanent voters card.
“We thank Almighty Allah for His blessings and for His mercy. It wasn’t a difficult thing for me to go back to the university having taught for 30 years. Alhamdulillah, I have done five years at INEC and thanks be to God, people have appreciated that we have done our best to improve the electoral process,” he said.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to name the INEC chairman of and other national commissioners.
