President Bola Tinubu has dissolved the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra State, and removed the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Nwokike.
This decision, announced on Wednesday, comes amid a storm of controversy surrounding the university’s leadership and governance.
The dissolution of the university’s governing body, which was led by Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, follows allegations that the council had appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without adhering to the required legal processes. The decision to remove the council and officials was made after concerns were raised about the irregularities in the appointment process and the ensuing tension between the university’s Senate and the Governing Council.
In a statement issued by the presidency, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, revealed that the federal government intervened after it was discovered that the Governing Council had ignored due process in selecting the new vice-chancellor.
Onanuga stated, “The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process. The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process.”
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had earlier criticized the council’s actions, accusing it of failing to follow proper procedures in Odoh’s appointment. In response, ASUU called for the dissolution of the council, which has now been officially carried out.
The Federal Ministry of Education also took swift action, confirming the removal of Prof. Bernard Odoh and the dissolution of the university’s governing council. The Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folashade Boriowo, issued a statement confirming the federal government’s decision, noting that the council’s actions had led to “grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education.”
The statement further explained, “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.”
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized the urgency of addressing the governance crisis at NAU, stressing that immediate corrective actions were necessary to restore stability.
“Urgent measures were needed 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 destabilizing the institution,” said Dr. Alausa.
In line with the university’s founding act, the Ministry has announced that an Acting Vice-Chancellor will be appointed to oversee the institution’s affairs, and a new governing council will be constituted to ensure adherence to proper governance protocols and the rule of law.
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