President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, the new Vice Chancellor, and Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, the registrar.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), The council, led by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, was made up of five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, and Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
Reasons For Sack
The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process which led to widespread controversy.
After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the 33-year-old institution. The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process. This led to the dissolution of the institution’s governing council.
In the same vein, President Tinubu also signed off on the removal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami is the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.
The decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including suspending the Vice-Chancellor without following the due process.
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 behavior towards the Ministry’s Directors, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary responsibility of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of university activities by the act establishing each university. President Tinubu therefore warned the councils not to create distractions in their universities as his government is focused on improving the country’s education standards.
