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November 21, 2024
SaharaReporters had reported that President Bola Tinubu approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of the University and the removal of Odoh and Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, as the VC and registrar respectively.
The embattled Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in Anambra State (UNIZIK), Bernard Odoh, has accused the Federal Ministry of Education of “mischievously” and “deliberately” setting the institution on fire.
Odoh made the allegation in a statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Charles Otu, while reacting to the announcement of his sacking by the ministry on Wednesday following his controversial appointment.
SaharaReporters had reported that President Bola Tinubu approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of the University and the removal of Odoh and Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, as the VC and registrar respectively.
The council, led by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, included five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, and Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, said in a statement on Wednesday.
The controversy surrounding Odoh's appointment stems from allegations of false claims in his academic profile, including a disputed stint as a visiting professor at the Federal University, Gusau.
The university's chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria had previously raised concerns about irregularities in the appointment process.
A statement by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press & Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, also on Wednesday, said in accordance with the university's founding Act, an acting vice-chancellor will be appointed, and a new governing council for the university "will be constituted as soon as possible to ensure proper governance and adherence to the law".
The statement maintained that all the changes were with immediate effect, adding that "this step aligns with the Government's commitment to good governance, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law in the nation's educational institutions".
Titled, ‘Dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka,’ the statement noted that the dissolution of the Governing Council of UNIZIK followed "grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education".
It said, "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.”
"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," it added.
But Otu in the statement said, “The attention of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University has again been drawn to yet another mischievous letter emanating from the Ministry of Education and signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade titled: Dissolution of Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and shared virally in both mainstream and Social media platforms in the late hours of today, 20th day of November, 2024.”
Otu said, “Again, as we had pointed out in the first kite flown by the Ministry on the 2nd of November, we and every reasonable member of the public is constrained to make these posers:
“Who is the omnibus 'Federal Government', referred to in the said letter by the Ministry? Is it the visitor, Mr. President, who (may also act based on the recommendation of the Minister) as the only person with the powers to appoint and dissolve a duly constituted Governing Council as provided for in CAP. N139 Sub. 3 (1 and 2) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Act, LFN 2004?
“What grave breaches and lawful directive(s) as claimed by the Ministry has the Governing Council disobeyed when the members have never been formally or officially invited for any questioning on issues regarding the appointment of the Seventh Substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University?
“Why is the Education Ministry desperately working from an answer to a question by making its hasty insistence that the Council unilaterally appointed a Vice-Chancellor for the university?
“This is despite mountain of evidence before it clearly stating how the October 29th, 2024 race for the VCship of the University was won and lost with losers embracing and congratulating the winner.
“Why is the Ministry now desperately trying to also usurp the powers of the Courts of competent jurisdictions in our land before whom are multiple lawsuits on this matter by running into a conclusion without evidence?
“Even when the Vice-Chancellor has made his academic credentials public, why is the Ministry still referring to him as 'unqualified'?
“Further, all correspondences from this university's Registrar have already made copious clarifications on the processes leading to the emergence of Professor Benard Odoh as the 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
“Has there been any crises needless to allude 'breakdown of law and order' in the institution since the subsequent inauguration into office of the Seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University?”
“It can even be safe to conclude that the Ministry, ostensibly working for some fifth columnists may want to ignite or spark crises with its highly dictatorial treatise,” Out added.
“Again, for the second time in less than three weeks, the Ministry of Education violated the extant provisions of the University's Act by announcing for the second time, a purported removal from office of the Seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university which we still insist it has no powers to do, not especially when parties are already in the various Courts of Law.”
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