The Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has sacked the newly appointed Vice-chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (NAU), Prof Bernard Odoh and also dissolved the university’s Governing Council led by Greg Mbadiwe
Penpushing reports the sack was made known in a statement by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President, Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday, adding that the university registrar Ms Rosemary Nwokike was also sacked.
‘The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process. After the controversial appointment, the federal government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the Governing Council of the 23-year-old institution’, Onanuga wrote.
Penpushing further reports that the special adviser said in the statement that the Presidency has expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process.
The statement in another development disclosed that Tinubu approved the removal of Engr Ohieku Salami as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.
Penpushing also reports that the statement explained that the decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including suspending the Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, arguing that despite a call by the Federal Ministry of Education for the unlawful suspension to be revoked, Salami turned deaf ear.
The statement added that instead, Salami resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour towards the Ministry’s Directors, including the Permanent Secretary, pointing out that the Nigerian government has reiterated that the primary responsibility of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of university activities in accordance with the act establishing each university.
Penpushing reports that Onanuga in the statement stated that the President has warned councils not to create distractions in their universities as his government was focused on improving the country’s education standards.
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