The newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Benard Odoh has denied that his appointment has been voided.
Odoh in a press release issued by his personal media assistant, Mr Charles Otu insisted that his appointment passed through the stipulated guidelines and that he would assume office on Tuesday.
Recall that the Federal Ministry of Education in a letter signed by one Mrs R. G. Ilyasu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary claimed it had declared the appointment as null and void.
But Otu in a statement he signed on behalf of Odoh and made available to DAILY POST insisted that due process was meticulously observed throughout his appointment as the Vice-Chancellor, by the university’s governing council.
He said: “Based on Nigeria’s extant laws, the Ministry of Education only oversees general educational standards across the nation, but does not have the legal power to direct or control the daily decisions of a university council, including who should be appointed as Vice-Chancellor.
“The institution has rightly stated that all its actions were informed and conform with the statutory requirements set forth in the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Act, Cap 139 (as amended), LFN 2004.
“The Registrar who doubles as the Secretary to the Council had replied that the actions of the Council were in total conformity with the provisions of Section 6 (a) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Standing Orders of the Governing Council which stipulates that the quorum requirements which mandates the presence of five members, including at least one of the following: The Vice-Chancellor or his Deputy, one appointee of the Visitor and one appointee of the Senate.
“For further clarification, the attention of the general public must be drawn first and foremost to the fact that our extant laws clearly specify the roles of the Governing Council of a tertiary institution vis-a-vis those of the Visitor and the parent’s Ministry of Education.
“In Nigeria, the university governing council plays a unique and critical role in the administration and governance of universities.
“It’s a special body that has been legally granted the authority to oversee the university’s operations, including making key decisions about policies, finances, and appointments—such as choosing a vice-chancellor (VC).
“This council is designed to function independently, separate from direct control by outside bodies, including the Federal Ministry of Education.
“Therefore, when the Council reaches a decision, such as appointing a new Vice-Chancellor (VC), (as it has done in the instant case of UNIZIK), it communicates this decision to the Ministry as a form of official notice. This is a requirement for transparency and coordination, not for approval or control.
“As a matter of fact, the Nigerian law recognizes university councils as autonomous bodies with the right to govern their institutions independently.”
He described the level of opposition from those whose candidates lost out in contests as unhealthy and distracting.
He said some of the suspected sponsors of these falsehoods that have been flying day and night since the official appointment now seem to be taken too far.
He urged members of the university community to give peace a chance while stating that as announced earlier by the university, he would assume work on Tuesday and this will be commemorated with a Catholic mass and blessing of his office by a Catholic Bishop.
