Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), has directed all staff members who filed lawsuits against the university to withdraw them within seven days of the notice.
This was contained in an internal memo dated 11th November and signed by the University Registrar, Mrs Rosemary Nwokike.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe memo titled “Directive to withdraw legal action against the university,” was addressed to “All Concerned Staff” and copied to key university officials, including the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar, Librarian, Deans and HODs.
This directive comes as controversies trail the appointment of Benard Odoh as Vice-chancellor of the University.
Some staff members and other critical stakeholders of the university community have kicked against the appointment, saying Odoh was not qualified and due process was not followed.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, UNIZIK Chapter, and the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria have filed lawsuits against the governing council, Odoh, and the university.
ASUU and MDCAN had issued separate statements calling for removal of Odoh from office, citing irregularities in the process of appointment.
ASUU argued that Odoh is yet to attain professorship as he claimed.
The Federal Government through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, University Education Department, Mrs R. G. Ilyasu, had written a letter to the UNIZIK Governing Council, declaring that the appointments of the Vice-chancellor and Registrar did not follow due process and are therefore null void. The Permanent Secretary also directed the council to withhold all pending appointments until after the new minister of education assumes office.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Govt Nullifies Appointment Of New VC For UNIZIK
The University authorities had, while responding to the letter, claimed that due process was followed in the appointment of the Vice-chancellor.
The office of the Vice-chancellor has also dismissed the letter which claimed to have annulled the appointment of Odoh as Vice-chancellor.
The university urged staff members to comply with the Pro-Chancellor’s directive and withdraw their cases in court, warning that failure to do so will be considered defiance against the Council’s authority.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
