Why FG Overruled UNIZIK Council & Removed Newly  Appointed VC, Registrar

By Charles Igbo

The Federal Government has removed Professor Bernard Odoh from office as the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

He was appointed the substantive Vice Chancellor  by the University’s Council which Chairman is Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe. But he lasted for 48 hours only  before the FG overruled the Council and removed him from office.

The outgone Vice Chancellor had, on Wednesday, handed over the affairs of the University to an excited Odoh who immediately began to arrange how he would be ushered into his new high profile office. A prayer and thanksgiving giving service had been arranged.

But the Federal Ministry of Education put a stop to the preparations. It accused the University’s Council of acting contrary to the agreements reached between the Council and the Ministry.

Professor Odoh’s appointment, the Ministry pointed out was  unacceptable to some stakeholders and generated protests in some quarters.

The Ministry, in a letter signed by Mrs R. G. Ilyasu, declared appointments made by the Council illegal, and so, null and void.

Entitled “RE APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTANTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR AND REGISTRAR FOR NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY AWKA, the letter reads:

“Sequel to your meeting with the Honourable Minister of State for Education (MSE) held on Friday, 25” October,2024, it was formally agreed that no appointments should be carried out by your Council without reconciling with the stakeholders 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, 29” October, 2024.

“This is a gross disregard to constituted Authority and is not in line with extant provisions. Against this backdrop, I am directed to inform you that all appointments made 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 Honorable Minster of Education. Please accept the assurances of the esteemed regards and considerations of the Permanent Secretary Education”.