Just In: Tinubu Sacks UniZik Council, VC, Registrar

President Bola Tinubu has accepted the dissolution of the Governing Council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, the Anambra State Capital, and the removal of Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, the new vice chancellor, and Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, the registrar.

The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, is made up of five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Retd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.

The decision of the governing council was made public on Wednesday in Abuja through a statement made available by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

The press release said: “The dismissal of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council reportedly appointed an incompetent vice-chancellor without following due process.”

It noted that after the controversial appointment, the federal government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the 33-year-old institution.

The government stressed over the council’s apparent for the university’s governing laws in its selection process.

In the same vein, President Tinubu also accepted the removal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami as the pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.

The decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including suspending the vice-chancellor without following the prescribed procedures.

Despite the Federal Ministry of Education’s call for the unlawful suspension to be revoked, Engr. Salami refused to comply. Instead, he resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour towards the Ministry’s Directors, including the Permanent Secretary.

The Federal Government 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.

President Tinubu warned the councils not to create distractions in their universities as his government is focused on improving the country’s education standards.

In another development, President Tinubu has approved the immediate swap of the pro-chancellors and chairmen of the governing councils for the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and Federal University Lokoja.