The management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State has made clarifications over the status of its newly appointed Vice Chancellor, Professor Bernard Odoh.
The university maintains that the appointment of Professor Bernard Odoh followed due process and therefore, remains valid and lawful.
The appointment of the Professor of Applied Geophysics as the 7th substantive Vice Chancellor of the 33-year old university has been enmeshed in high-wire politics as several political interests have continued weigh in on the appointment.
Several interests both within and outside the university have show strong emotions in the appointment of the university’s top officer.
In a new development, a letter dated November 1, 2024 and signed by Mrs. R. G. Ilyasu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education with reference number, FME/HE/CU/82/302 addressed to the Pro-Chancellor of the university, surfaced in the media over the weekend. According to the letter, the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the institution was tagged “null and void.”
The letter indicates that the appointments aught to have been put on hold till a substantive new minister of education assumed office.
Part of the letter reads:
“Sequel to your meeting with the Hon Minister of State for Education held on Friday 29th October 2024, it was formerly 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 Ministry that your Council had gone ahead to appoint a Vice Chancellor for the University without the Representatives of the Ministry and other stakeholders on Tuesday 29th 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 so far are null and void “
“You are therefore required to put on hold all other appointments in the University pending the assumption on duty of the new Hon Minister for Education.”
However, in a swift reaction, the university through a letter signed by the Registrar/Secretary of the Council of the institution, Mrs. R. I. Nwokike dated November 1, 2024 with reference number, NAU/ REG/95b and addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, maintained that all “due process[es]” were followed in the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor and Registrar.
The school stated that all statutory requirements were fulfilled noting that its engagement with the Ministry of Education does not in any way vitiate the powers of the Council of the university on the appointment of its Vice Chancellor.
According to the university, “due process was meticulously observed throughout the selection and appointment process for both the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar.”
The school maintained that, “the suggestion of ‘reconciling with aggrieved persons’ is not relevant in the procedural integrity. Of the eighteen applicants, for the position, fifteen attended the interview, and score sheets were duly documented. The Council, within the scope of its lawful authority, has fulfilled its mandate with transparency and adherence to the University’s regulations.”
Attached are the letters:
