The Federal Government has announced the immediate removal of Professor Benard Odoh as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State.
The government also announced the dissolution of the Governing Board of the University.
The announcements were contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Folashade Boriowo.
The statement reads:
“The Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, following grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education
“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, emphasized 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 destabilizing the institution
“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.
“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 appointment of Odoh has been enmeshed in controversy over his qualification for the job with a section of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) from the university issuing statements against the appointment of the Vice Chancellor, insisting that the Governing Council of the university did not follow the laid down rules in the appoint of the VC,
