UNIZIK Crisis: Tinubu Sacks VC Odoh, Dissolves Governing Council
Following the embarrassing crisis at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of the institution, and the removal of Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, the new Vice Chancellor, and Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, the registrar.
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.
According to a statement by Presidential Media Aide, Bayo Onanuga, the sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.
“After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the 23-year-old institution.
The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process”, the statement read.
In a similar development, the President also approved the sack of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami as the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.
The Presidency said the “decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including suspending the Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures.”
President Tinubu regretted that “despite the Federal Ministry of Education’s call for the unlawful suspension to be revoked, Engr. Salami refused to comply. Instead, he resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour towards the Ministry’s Directors, including the Permanent Secretary.”
The statement reiterates that the “primary responsibility of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of university activities in accordance with the act establishing each university.”
Onanuga in the statement added that the President has warned the councils not to create distractions in their universities as his government is focused on improving the country’s education standards.
