NEC to appoint vice-chancellor of University of PNG

THE National Executive Council is expected to discuss today a submission on the appointments of a University of PNG vice-chancellor and council members.
The submission will be tabled by Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Pila Niningi.
He declined to disclose the names of the potential candidates. “I will also be giving
in a submission with a list of possible candidates for the vice-chancellor as well,” he said.
“My office will not be making the decision on who will be on the council or who will be the vice-chancellor.
“We are just giving the names of potential candidates and the NEC will decide who becomes the vice-chancellor and who sits on the council.”
University staff and National Academic Staff Association members boycotted classes last week in protest over what they claimed was political interference by Niningi in appointing a vice-chancellor and an interim council in January.
The protest ended after Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari intervened and promised that a submission for the appointment of Dr Frank Griffin as the vice-chancellor and the appointment of a new council would be submitted to the NEC for a decision.
Lupari said an independent investigation would be carried out into the affairs of the previous council and the university.