TINUBU SACKS UNIZIK VC, GOVERNING COUNCIL OVER CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENTS

President Bola Tinubu has sacked the newly appointed Vice-chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (NAU), Bernard Odoh.NAU, a federal university in Anambra State, is popularly known as UNIZIK. Tinubu also dissolved the university's Governing Council led by Greg Mbadiwe.Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to Mr Tinubu on Information and Strategy, announced this in a statement on Wednesday. The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice- chancellor without following due process," Mr Onanuga said. "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," he added. The special adviser said the federal government has expressed "concern over the council's apparent disregard for the university's governing laws in its selection process.

"Mr Onanuga also announced that Mr Tinubu approved the removal of Ohieku Salami as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson 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," he said. 

Mr Tinubu had approved the dissolution of the Governing Council over the controversial appointment of Mr Odoh as the vice-chancellor of the university. Mr Odoh, a professor, emerged as the seventh substantive vice- chancellor of the university on 29 October.

The Mr Mbadiwe-led Governing Council had earlier appointed Rosemary Nwokike as the university's Registrar. Why Tinubu sacked Mr Odoh, Governing CouncilMr Onanuga in the Wednesday statement also announced that Mr Tinubu also ordered the sack of Ms Nwokike, a lawyer, as the university's registrar. The presidential adviser explained that despite a call by the Federal Ministry of Education for the "unlawful suspension" to be revoked, Mr Salami, an engineer, refused to comply. "Instead, he resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour towards the ministry's directors, including the permanent secretary," he said.

The presidential adviser explained that despite a call by the Federal Ministry of Education for the "unlawful suspension" to be revoked, Mr Salami, an engineer, refused to comply. "Instead, he resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour towards the ministry's directors, including the permanent secretary," he said. Mr Onanuga pointed out that the federal 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. He said President Tinubu has warned councils not to create "distractions in their universities" as his government was focused on improving the country's education standards.