Section 13: Appointment of the Rector

(1) There shall be a Rector for the College (in this Act referred to as "the Rector") who shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(2) Where a vacancy occurs in the post of the Rector, the Council shall -
(a) advertise the vacancy, not less than six months to the expiration of the term of the sitting Rector, in a reputable journal and two widely read newspapers in Nigeria, specifying in addition to any other qualification, that the person shall, as minimum qualification, either -
i) be a pilot of the standing of a captain with a total of 10 years cognate experience as a captain with at least five years' experience as a chief flying instructor or training captain, or
(ii) be a chief instructor or lecturer with a professional aviation licence or equivalent rank in a tertiary institution and possess a minimum of masters degree from a recognised university with at least five years' experience as chief instructor or equivalent rank in a tertiary institution:
Provided that in each case, the candidate's qualification shall be relevant to any of the schools in the College.
(b) specify the terms and conditions of service applicable to the post;
(c) draw up a short list of suitable candidates for consideration; and
(d) constitute a search team consisting of -
(i) a member of the Council, not being a member of the Academic Board, as Chairman,
(ii) two members of the Academic Board, not below the rank of chief lecturer or chief instructor, and
(iii) two members of the Academic staff of the College not below the rank of chief lecturer or chief instructor to be elected from among its members, to identify and draw up a short list of persons who are not likely to apply on their own volition because they feel that it is not proper to do so.
(3) The Joint Council, Academic Board and Congregation Selection Board established under section 10 (1) of this Act shall consider the candidates on the short list drawn up under subsection (2) through an examination of their curriculum vitae and interaction with them and recommend, through the Minister, to the President, three candidates for his consideration.
(4) The President shall appoint, as Rector, one of the candidates recommended to him under the provisions of subsection (3).
(5) The Rector shall be -
(a) the chief executive officer of the College; and
(b) subject to this Act and the general control of the Council charged with the responsibility for matters relating to the management of the College.
(6) The Rector shall -
(a) hold office for a single term of five years only beginning from the date of his appointment and on such terms and conditions as may be specified in his letter of appointment;
(b) where he was appointed to serve for a term of four years before the commencement of this Act, shall upon the commencement of this Act have his tenure extended for one year to complete the single term of five years in line with paragraph (a);
(c) where he is already serving a second term of four years, shall at the commencement of this Act, be deemed to be serving his final term of office on completion of his second tenure of four years;
(d) have power to exercise general authority over staff and be responsible for discipline in the College in line with the provisions of this Act; and
(e) have his appointment determined by the terms and conditions in his letter of appointment and his remuneration determined by the extant laws and in line with the conditions obtainable in other similar tertiary institutions.
(7) The Rector may for reason of gross misconduct be suspended from office by the Minister on the recommendation of the Council, or he may be removed from office by the President on the recommendation of the Council, or if he -
(a) has demonstrated inability to effectively perform the duties of his office;
(b) has been absent from five consecutive meetings of the Council without the consent of the Chairman unless he shows good reason for such absence;
(c) is guilty of serious misconduct; or
(d) is disqualified or suspended from practicing his profession in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority, in the case of a person possessed of professional qualifications.
(8) The Rector shall not be removed from office except in accordance with the provisions of this Act.