ASUU Warns UNIZIK VC: “You Don’t Have Any Authority To Your Position”

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

There appears to be no end in sight to the  crisis rocking the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK,  over the appointment of a Vice Chancellor.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Wednesday, November, 13, 2024, called on its members to shun all activities involving Prof Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, the Institution’s new Vice Chancellor, as well as his office.

The Source reports that the appointment of Prof  Odoh as the Vice Chancellor by the Amb.Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council, has continued to divide the University Community.

The  ASUU, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria MDCN, as well as other  professional bodies have continued to fault the selection processes that enthroned Odoh as VC.

In addition to mounting several legal challenges against the appointment, the Unions have also resolved to shun all activities relating to the office of the new Vice Chancellor.

Pro-Chancellor,and Chairman of Council, Amb Mbadiwe, however, in a memo dated November 11, 2024, directed the aggrieved Unions and other staff members to,  within seven days, withdraw all legal actions against the appointment or face disciplinary actions.

The memo which was addressed to “Concerned Staff”, was, also, copied to the University’s Principal Officers,  Deans of Faculties, and Heads of Departments.

But in a statement on Wednesday, November 13, 2024,  the ASUU-UNIZIK Chairman, Kingsley Ubaoji, urged members to boycott all meetings called by the disputed Vice chancellor.

“We have been informed of a meeting today by Dr  Bernard Odoh whose appointment as the Vice Chancellor of our great University is barred by a Court order and has been nullified. DO NOT ATTEND THIS MEETING”, ASUU stated.

“For the records, one of  the grounds for rejecting Odoh as the Vice Chancellor by the ASSU is the claim that he is yet to attain the position of a Professor, hence the reference to him as Dr Odoh”

The ASUU-UNIZIK insisted that it smacks of a gross act of disregard for the laws of the land for Odoh to convene a meeting in the face of a restraining court order.

The body, therefore, urged members not to lend themselves to any acts  capable of conferring undue legitimacy on the legally challenged tenure of Odoh.

” We expect Dr Odoh to be civil and decent enough to subordinate himself to legitimate authorities .

“His appointment stands against a Court order and has been declared null and void by the Federal. Ministry of Education.

“He has no authority to the position he claims. He should avoid precipitating a breakdown of law and order in our University.

“We urge all ASUU members to remain vigilant and be informed about any developments relating Dr Odoh’s activities.

“If you receive any invitations or information regarding any meetings with him ,please disregard them”, Ubaoji stated.