President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the dissolution of governing council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra state.
Gatekeepers News reports that the governing council has Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe as chairman and five other members including Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Amioleran Osahon, and Funsho Oyeneyin.
Special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga announced this through a statement released on Wednesday.
Onanuga said Tinubu approved the removal of Bernard Odoh, new vice chancellor, and Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, registrar of the institution.
The statement goes, “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.”
“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process.”
Meanwhile, Tinubu also approved the removal of Ohieku Muhammed Salami as pro-chancellor and chair of governing council of Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue state.
The statement added, “This decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including suspending the Vice-Chancellor without following proper procedures.”
“Despite a call from the Federal Ministry of Education to revoke the suspension, Salami refused to comply.”
“Instead, he allegedly resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour toward the Ministry’s Directors, including the Permanent Secretary.”
The president said the primary responsibility of university councils is to ensure the smooth running of university activities in line with the laws that establish them.
He further warned university councils not to create distractions as his government works to improve the country’s education system.
