Victor Ezeja
The Nigerian government through the Federal Ministry of Education has sacked the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK), Dr Bernard Odoh.
The Federal Government also dissolved the Governing Council of the university.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis was announced in a statement released on Wednesday signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Education, Folashade Boriowo.
The statement said the Federal Government found that the council gravely violated the laws governing the university in the appointment of the vice-chancellor and also ignored lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education.
The statement said: “The Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, following grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education.
“The decision comes after it was found that the Chairman of the Governing Council unilaterally appointed a Vice-Chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position. This led to a breakdown of law and order within the university community, causing tension and disharmony.”
Continuing, the statement said the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stressed that the dissolution of the UNIZIK governing council and removal of the vice chancellor became necessary to “prevent further deterioration of the situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as the illegal decisions taken by the Governing Council posed a significant risk of further destabilising the institution.”
“The Honourable Minister of Education has also announced the removal of Prof. Bernard Odoh, the Vice-Chancellor who was illegally appointed by the dissolved Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.”
Prime Business Africa had reported that the university council led by Amb Greg Mbadiwe had on 29 October announced the appointment of Odoh as the seventh substantive vice-chancellor of UNIZIK.
The announcement sparked protests by various stakeholders in the university community, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and the School Senate among others. They observed that the council failed to follow due process in the appointment of the vice-chancellor and the university registrar, Rosemary Nwokike.
ASUU said Odoh was not a full-rank professor as he claimed and did not meet the minimum eligibility requirements. It called on the federal government to remove the VC and also dissolve the governing council over the illegalities.
MDCAN also accused the council of adopting a process that deliberately excluded those in the medical and basic sciences.
The Federal Ministry of Education also sent a letter to the governing council chairman some days after the appointment, declaring that the appointment is null and void and ordering that other subsequent appointments be suspended pending when the new minister of education assumes office.
According to the statement, the ministry further stated that in line with the university laws, an Acting Vice-Chancellor will be appointed, and a new Governing Council for the university will also be constituted as soon as possible.
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.
