President Bola Tinubu has ordered the dissolution of the governing council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State.
Alongside this decision, the newly appointed vice chancellor Prof. Bernard Odoh and the registrar Rosemary Nwokike have also been removed from their positions.
The dissolved council was chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe and included members Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon and Retired General Funsho Oyeneyin.
This development was announced on Wednesday through a statement by the special adviser to the president on information and strategy Bayo Onanuga.
The statement said: “The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.”
It further explained that 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.
In the same vein, President Tinubu also approved the removal of Engr. Ohieku Salami as 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 prescribed procedures.
Despite the Federal Ministry of Education’s call for the unlawful suspension to be revoked, Salami refused to comply. Instead, he resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour 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 in accordance with the act establishing each university.
Tinubu warned the councils not to create distractions in their universities as his government is focused on improving the country’s education standards.
In another development, Tinubu has approved the immediate swap of the pro-chancellors and chairmen of the governing councils for the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti and Federal University, Lokoja.
In this reshuffling, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, currently serving as the pro-chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, will take over at Federal University Oye-Ekiti.
Engineer Kayode Ojo, who previously held a similar position at Oye-Ekiti, will assume the role in Lokoja.
“This strategic change is part of President Tinubu’s initiative to foster diversity and national cohesion in the management of the country’s universities,” the statement by Onanuga explained.
