According to a release revealed by the Presidency on Wednesday in a statement headed “President Tinubu sacks Nnamdi Azikiwe University Council, VC and Registrar,” which was signed by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
The Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, has been disbanded by President Bola Tinubu, who has also dismissed the university’s recently appointed Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Nwokike, and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Odoh.
Additionally, he gave his approval for Ohieku Salami to be removed from his position as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Federal University of Health Sciences Governing Council in Otukpo, Benue State.
The five other members of the NAU council, which was chaired by Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, were Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin (retd.), Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, and Amioleran Osahon.
Following allegations that the governing council had unlawfully nominated an unfit vice-chancellor without following the proper procedures, the council and its staff were fired.Following the contentious nomination, the federal government intervened to resolve conflicts between the 33-year-old university’s Senate and Governing Council.
According to Onanuga, the government was concerned about the council’s selection process, which seemed to disregard the university’s governing regulations. Likewise, Odoh’s departure has been announced by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The ministry also said that the Governing Council of the organization had been dissolved.Folashade Boriowo, the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, issued a statement on Wednesday announcing the news.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities demanded that the FME dismiss the institution’s governing council for illegal actions, accusing it of not following due procedure in Odoh’s nomination.
Following serious violations of the university’s rules and disobedience to legal orders from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Government has declared the dismissal of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
Following an investigation that revealed the Chairman of the Governing Council had nominated a Vice-Chancellor without following the proper procedures, the decision was made. Tension and discord ensued as a result of the campus community’s law and order breaking down.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stressed that immediate action was required to stop the situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University from getting worse because the Governing Council’s unlawful decisions carried a serious risk of further destabilizing the university.
The Honorable Minister of Education has also declared the dismissal of Prof. Bernard Odoh, the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, who was unlawfully appointed by the now-dissolved Governing Council.
To guarantee appropriate governance and legal compliance, a new governing council for the university will be established as soon as feasible and an acting vice-chancellor will be appointed in line with the university’s founding act.
