President Bola Tinubu has dissolved the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra State, and removed its newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Odoh, as well as the Registrar, Mrs Rosemary Nwokike.
The presidency, in a statement on Wednesday signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, and five other council members, including Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Amioleran Osahon, and Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin (retd.), were also dismissed.
The decision followed reports that the Governing Council illegally appointed an unqualified Vice-Chancellor without adhering to due process.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) accused the council of failing to follow the university’s governing laws in its selection process and demanded its dissolution.
“The illegal appointment of a Vice-Chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria led to a breakdown of law and order within the university community,” the statement said.
The Federal Ministry of Education (FME) confirmed Prof. Odoh’s removal, citing grave breaches of the university’s laws. In response, Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa announced that an Acting Vice-Chancellor would be appointed soon, and a new governing council constituted to restore order and ensure compliance with legal frameworks.
In a related development, Tinubu also approved the reshuffling of pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) and Federal University, Lokoja.
Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), who previously served as the Pro-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, has been reassigned to FUOYE. Similarly, Kayode Ojo, the former Pro-Chancellor at FUOYE, will now serve in the same capacity at Lokoja.
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