The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the removal of Dr. Bernard Odoh as the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and the dissolution of the institution’s Governing Council.
The announcement was made in a statement on Wednesday, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folashade Boriowo.
The move follows accusations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which alleged that the Governing Council had violated due process in appointing Odoh and called for the dissolution of the Council over illegal actions.
“The Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, due to serious breaches of university regulations and blatant disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education,” the statement read.
The Ministry explained that the Chairman of the Governing Council had unilaterally appointed a Vice-Chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position, causing unrest and tension within the university community.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that urgent action was necessary to prevent further destabilization at the university due to the illegal decisions made by the Governing Council.
The statement further confirmed that Dr. Bernard Odoh’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor had been revoked, and an Acting Vice-Chancellor would be appointed in line with the university’s founding act. A new Governing Council will also be established promptly to ensure proper governance and compliance with legal procedures.
