The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed the recent appointment of Bernard Odoh as Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, declaring the decision “null and void.”
The University’s Governing Council had named Odoh as its 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor on October 29, 2024, following an interview process overseen by Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, who led the selection of candidates for the position.
However, in a letter dated November 1, addressed to the Pro-Chancellor by Mrs. R. G. Ilyasu on behalf of the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, the Education Ministry stated that prior agreement mandated resolving any internal disputes before finalizing appointments.
The letter states, “Sequel to your meeting with the Honourable Minister of State for Education, (HMSE) held on Friday, 25th October, 2024, it was formally agreed that no appointments should be carried out by your Council without reconciling with the aggrieved parties in the University Community.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry that your Council had gone ahead to appoint a Vice Chancellor for the University without the Representative of the Ministry, the internal council members and other Stakeholders on Tuesday, 29th October, 2024. This is a gross disregard to constituted Authority and is not in line with Extant provisions,” the ministry continued. “Against this backdrop: I am directed to inform you that all appointments made so far are null and void. You are therefore requested to put on hold all other appointments in the University pending the assumption on duty of the new Honourable Minister of Education.”
The letter was also copied to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission.
Meanwhile, it was that the University Senate had decided to suspend participation in the selection process for a new Vice-Chancellor until proper criteria, initially advertised on September 12, 2024, are clarified through a corrigendum.
The selection process had involved an invitation to qualified candidates for interviews on October 29, 2024. However, a lawsuit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of NAUTH, Nnewi, alongside Dr. Victor Modekwe, has sought a court order to halt the appointment process based on unresolved disputes. This suit, submitted to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, argues for an injunction against any appointment actions until the litigation is resolved.
Similarly, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University filed its own legal action against the appointments of Odoh and Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike as Vice Chancellor and Registrar, respectively. In a separate case marked suit no. NICN/AWK/52/2024, ASUU seeks a perpetual injunction to prevent the appointed individuals from assuming their roles.
The Claimants further argue that the “unilateral selection, appointment, and composition of the Selection Board for the appointment of the Registrar of the University on October 21, 2024, and the Vice Chancellor on October 29, is illegal, null and void, ultra vires, and of no effect.”
Despite strong protests over the perceived irregularities, the Governing Council proceeded with the appointment, naming Odoh, a former Secretary to the Government of Ebonyi State, as the university’s Vice-Chancellor. Odoh, a university alumnus, began his academic career in 2006 as an Assistant Lecturer in Ebonyi State University and joined Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s Department of Geological Sciences in 2009, where he advanced to the rank of Reader by 2019.
(SAHARAREPORTERS)