Victor EzejaThe Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) chapter, has faulted the process that led to the appointment of a new Vice-chancellor of the institution, Prof. Benard Odoh and called for his removal from office.
In strongly-worded statement signed by Comrade Kingsley Ubaoji, Chairman, ASUU, NAU chapter, the group also called for the removal of the Pro-chancellor and chairman of the university governing council, Greg Mbadiwe, the school registrar, Mrs Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike and four other government appointees of the Council.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa reports that on Tuesday, 29th October, the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, appointed Prof. Benard Odoh as the seventh substantive Vice Chancellor.
Odoh, a Professor of Geophysics from the Department of Applied Geophysics, Faculty of Physical Sciences of the University, took over from the acting VC, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi, who served for four months.
Odoh’s appointments sparked protests within the university community who queried his eligibility for the office.
In a detailed statement, ASUU NAU chapter claimed that Odoh was imposed on the university by the governing council chairman.
The group advanced reasons the new VC was not qualified to be appointed into the office. According to them, Odoh, who obtained his Bachelor, Masters and doctorate degrees in Geological Sciences from the university and got appointment as lecturer in 2009, is currently at the rank of a Reader as indicated in his Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) payment slip as of August 2024.
They also accused the new VC of completing his PhD in 2008 and being promoted to the rank of a Reader at the university in 2019 under controversial circumstances.
In between in his service in the university, Odoh also made foray into politics. He served as Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government between 2015 and 2018 and contested for Senatorial ticket in 2015, and also contested for governorship of Ebonyi State in 2023 under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
While Odoh now has the title of Professor, the ASUU NAU chapter insisted that he remains a Reader in the university.
It said it only saw in Odoh’s CV that he was appointed as a visiting Professor of Geophysics at the Federal University of Gusau from July 2015 to October 2017 and also appointed pioneer head of the Department at the university within the same period. “This coincides with the same period he was SSG to the Ebonyi State Government,” it stated.
The academic body quoted what it said was a response from the from the Registrar, Federal University, Gusau, allegedly affirming that Odoh was neither a staff nor a pioneer Head of Department of Geology at the university at any time as stated in his CV.
The group further argued that if Odoh was appointed visiting professor, it does not make him a full professor. “A visiting Professor is a temporary academic position that allows you to teach or conduct research at a different institution than your home one. The term ‘Visiting’ means that it is not a permanent position and is not ‘tenure-track’ (it is not earned by promotion),” the statement clarified.
“It is crystal clear from the above that Dr Benard Odoh is not a Professor and is not therefore qualified by the criteria published to lead our academy. Regrettably, he parades a forged qualification, and a dubious character, not desiring of a true academic,” it further stated.
The academic staff union stated that despite receiving these pieces of information, the Greg Mbadiwe-led Council still “insisted on foisting Dr Benard Odoh on the University as its Vice Chancellor in a most reckless, despicable and dictatorial manner.”
The body accused Mbadiwe of skewing the VC appointment process to favour his anointed candidate. It said the eligibility criteria listed in the advertisement for Vice Chancellor which Mbadiwe personally published show that “it is narrowly tailored to match the profile of a specific individual, rather than being broadly based to attract a diverse range of qualified candidates.”
“This is evidenced by the exclusion of Professors from the Medical Sciences, and the emphasis and requirement of a proven record of having attracted not less than N400 million, which we consider restrictive and will disqualify numerous suitable candidates.
It queried the basis for putting the N400 million as a benchmark if the council chairman had no person in mind. It contended that “such specific conditions are usually not tenable,” adding that “What is often emphasised is the ability of the candidate to attract development to the University, which can come in form of grants, endowments, donations etc. The listed eligibility criteria left out very critical issues like evidence of university administrative experience, global reputation and visibility, apparently because the anointed candidate lacks such critically genuine experience.”
It said previous copies of similar advertisements from the University and cognate institutions were provided to convince the council chairman that he was taking wrong approach but he persisted and excluded internal members of the governing council (University Senate members and Congregation) and worked with only government-appointed council members.
“The Chairman of Council erred by believing that only the external members of Council are essential members in the exercise. Unconscious of his awful doom, marginalised and disregarded the representatives of Senate and Congregation in the entire process of appointing both the Registrar and the ‘purported Vice Chancellor’.
“The Pro-Chancellor disregarded essential steps in the selection process which are mandatorily provided for by the enabling law.”
The group expressed concern that the process for the appointments to the office of VC and registrar as done so far have caused erosion of trust and loss of confidence in the Council and its leadership, institutional instability, and damage to the image of the University.
It stated that the university should not be a settlement for political jobbers.
“Given the above, we request the President and Visitor to the University to URGENTLY intervene in this matter by ordering the IMMEDIATE removal of Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, Chairman of Council, the four other government appointees of the Council, Dr Benard Odoh, the ‘purported Vice Chancellor’ from office, Mrs Rosemary Ifeoma Nowkike, as the Registrar; Reconstitute the Council, and
“Order a fresh advert and selection process for a new Vice Chancellor and Registrar for the University.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
