Niningi ready to submit names for university VC and council

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SUBMISSIONS for the positions of vice-chancellor and council members for the University of PNG (UPNG) will be made to Cabinet today.
Higher Education Research Science and Technology Minister Pila Niningi said yesterday he would be submitting the names of candidates to the National Executive Council (NEC) for a decision to be made.
The submissions were to have been made last Thursday, but the NEC meeting was deferred to today.
Niningi was not able to release the names of candidates recommended, however, said some members of the interim council were recommended.
“However, my office will not be making the decision of who will be on the council or who will be the vice-chancellor. We are just giving in a submission to the NEC with names of potential candidates. The NEC will decide who to appoint as the vice-chancellor and who sits on the council.”
University staff and the National Academic Staff Association (Nasa) boycotted classes recently in protest of what they claimed was “political interference” in appointment of vice-chancellor and interim council members.
The protest ended after Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari promised that a submission for the appointment of Dr Frank Griffin as vice-chancellor and appointment of a new council would be submitted to the NEC for a decision.