he Federal Ministry of Education says the government will soon constitute a new Governing Council and appoint acting Vice Chancellor for the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State to ensure proper governance and adherence to the law.

Newsmen earlier on Wednesday reported that President Bola Tinubu had approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of the school and the removal of Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, the new vice-chancellor, and Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, the registrar.

The council, led by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, included five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, and Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.

The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, said in a statement on Wednesday.

A statement by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press & Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, also on Wednesday, said that in accordance with the university’s founding Act, an acting vice-chancellor will be appointed, and a new governing council for the university “will be constituted as soon as possible to ensure proper governance and adherence to the law”.

The statement maintained that all the changes were with immediate effect, adding that “this step aligns with the Government’s commitment to good governance, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law in the nation’s educational institutions”.

Titled, ‘Dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka,’ the statement noted that the dissolution of the Governing Council of UNIZIK followed “grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education”.

It said, “The decision comes after it was found that the Chairman of the Governing Council unilaterally appointed a Vice-Chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position. This led to a breakdown of law and order within the university community, causing tension and disharmony.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasised that urgent measures were needed to prevent further deterioration of the situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as the illegal decisions taken by the Governing Council posed a significant risk of further destabilising the institution.”

“As part of the dissolution,” the Statement noted, “the following members of the Governing Council have been removed: Amb. Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe – Pro Chancellor, Hon. Hafiz Oladejo – Council Member, Hon. Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon and Rtd Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.

“The Honourable Minister of Education has also announced the removal of Prof. Bernard Odoh, the Vice-Chancellor who was illegally appointed by the dissolved Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.”

The university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria had previously raised concerns about irregularities in the appointment process.

The Federal Ministry of Education nullified Odoh’s appointment on November 1, 2024, citing the governing council’s failure to include ministry representatives and other stakeholders in the selection process.

On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, the Governing Council of the school appointed Odoh as the 7th substantive vice-chancellor of the school.

Odoh’s election process had been dogged by controversy from the start.

During the selection process, the school’s Senate resolved not to further participate in the selection of the university’s vice-chancellor and similar selections until the criteria published in the Vanguard Newspaper of September 12, 2024 for the selection were corrected in a well-advertised corrigendum.

The Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State earlier denied claims that Odoh was awarded professorship or had any academic ties with the school.

This clarification followed claims that Odoh became a professor at Federal University Gusau around 2015.

However, the university clarified that Odoh never served as a staff member or pioneer head of its geology department nor did he teach any courses.

The declaration made by the Federal University Gusau followed an inquiry made by Kingsley Awuka Esq, Principal Partner at Awuka, Okafor & Partners.

But Odoh countered the Federal University Gusau, over the allegations surrounding his professorship.

Odoh, in a statement made available to SaharaReporters by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Charles Otu, debunked the Federal University Gusau’s claim that he was not awarded professorship or had any academic ties with the institution. He explained his activities in the institution and the process through which he was awarded professorship by the University.

Amid the controversy following Odoh’s appointment, the Federal Ministry of Education declared Odoh’s appointment as null and void in a letter addressed to the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council by Mrs. R. G. Ilyasu for the Permanent Secretary of the ministry.

In the letter dated November 1, the ministry said it had been agreed that there would be no appointments without reconciliation with the aggrieved parties of the school.