President Bola Tinubu has officially dissolved the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, and removed its newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Odoh, along with the Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Nwokike.
Additionally, he approved the removal of Ohieku Salami as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
The decision was communicated by the Presidency on Wednesday through a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, under the heading ‘President Tinubu Dissolves Nnamdi Azikiwe University Council, Vice-Chancellor, and Registrar.’
The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Council, chaired by Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, consisted of five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Amioleran Osahon, and Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin (retd.).
The dissolution followed reports that the council had appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor in violation of due process. After the controversial appointment, tensions escalated between the university’s Senate and the Governing Council of the 33-year-old institution, prompting intervention from the federal government.
The government expressed concerns regarding the council’s disregard for the university’s governing laws during the selection process, as noted by Onanuga.
Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed the removal of Prof. Odoh and announced the dissolution of the university’s Governing Council. The statement, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, Folashade Boriowo, was issued on Wednesday.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities had accused the Governing Council of failing to adhere to due process in appointing Odoh, calling for the dissolution of the council due to illegalities. The Federal Government’s announcement emphasized that the council’s actions breached the laws governing the university and ignored lawful directives from the Ministry of Education.
The Federal Ministry of Education’s statement highlighted that the council’s unilateral appointment of a vice-chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria led to significant unrest within the university, disrupting law and order. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stressed the urgent need for action to prevent further instability at the university, noting that the council’s illegal decisions posed a serious risk to the institution’s governance.
In line with the university’s founding act, an Acting Vice-Chancellor will be appointed, and a new Governing Council will be constituted soon to ensure proper governance and adherence to the law.
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