Victor EzejaAs the crisis over the appointment of Dr Benard Odoh as substantive Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU or UNIZIK) lingers, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and save the situation.
ASUU made the call during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held between 8 and 9 November 2024 at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, where its members discussed burning issues affecting the country’s university system, including the imbroglio at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, over the appointment of Vice Chancellor and Registrar for the University.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU noted that the festering vice chancellorship crisis was caused by “obvious abuses and breaches of the extant laws and procedures in the purported appointment of Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of the University by the Governing Council.”
ASUU NEC expressed concern over the reported exclusion of internal members of the Council in the appointment proceedings as well as disregard for the participation of the school Senate in the nomination of its representatives into the Committees for the selection processes as provided by the law of the University.
The Union insisted that no available record of evidence shows that Dr. Benard Odoh is a full Professor, and expressed shock on his purported appointment as the substantive Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK by the Amb. Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council “in total disregard for the advertised eligibility criteria for the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University.”
ASUU further noted with concern that the appeals and interventions made by the University’s Chapter of the union, the Senate of the University, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Association of Medical and Dental Council to discourage the Mbadiwe-led Governing Council from toeing the path of “recklessness, lawlessness and impunity” in the appointment of the substantive Vice Chancellor and Registrar was without success.
Prime Business Africa had reported that the UNIZIK council on 29 October 2024, announced Odoh as the seventh substantive VC of the university. The announcement sparked protests by stakeholders in the university community including ASUU UNIZIK chapter, MDCAN among others, who faulted the appointment process.
The Federal Ministry of Education, through the Permanent Secretary, University Education Department, kicked against it and declared the appointments null and void.
However, the university authorities replied the ministry, insisting that due process was followed in the appointment.
While ASUU UNIZIK chapter led by Prof. Kingsley Ugboji of the Department of Biochemistry has filed a suit at the National Industrial Court, challenging the appointment process, the university authorities have initiated steps to take “disciplinary action” against those kicking against the new administration.
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The academic body described the process undertaken by the council for the appointment of the VC and registrar as “a huge joke and a mockery of academia!”
“We insist that the action of the Amb. Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council has no place in the University Law and tradition; it MUST therefore be addressed without delay.
“NEC resolved that the appointment of Dr. Benard Odoh, the purported “Vice Chancellor” and Mrs. Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike, the purported “Registrar” cannot stand, given its illegality and mockery of the university system.”
It warned that the continued stay of Odoh and the registrar in office is an invitation to anarchy in UNIZIK and called on the Nigerian president as the visitor to the university to take decisive action to the crisis.
The statement further stated that ASUU NEC re”solved to resist any further act of impunity, lawlessness, violation of the rights of academics, and acts of intimidation and witch-hunt by the pseudo authorities at NAU.”
“Consequently, ASUU calls on the Visitor and President of the Federal Republic to urgently take concrete and decisive steps to restore law and order in NAU. For the avoidance of doubt, ASUU like many other stakeholders at NAU, does not have confidence in the Amb. Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council and the Visitor should urgently intervene to redirect the University on the path of order, law and due process.”
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.
