The Federal Ministry of Education has declared the appointment of Dr. Ifeanyi Bernard Odoh as the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University null and void. This decision comes after the Ministry found that the university’s governing council, led by Ambassador Greg Ozuomba Mbadiwe, violated certain policies and failed to reconcile with aggrieved parties within the university community.
According to reports, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary sent a letter to the university’s leadership on November 1, 2024, stating that no appointments should be made without reconciling with the aggrieved parties. However, the council went ahead with the appointment on October 29, 2024, which the Ministry deemed a “gross disregard for constituted authority” [1).
The controversy surrounding Odoh’s appointment began when three professional associations, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), filed legal actions against the university. The associations claimed that the appointment process was flawed and did not follow established procedures.
With the Ministry’s declaration, the university community is awaiting the next steps. The aggrieved parties are expecting Ambassador Mbadiwe to correct his errors and comply with the Ministry’s demands. The development has sparked intense debate, with many calling for transparency and accountability in the university’s governance.
Key Developments:
- Appointment Declared Null and Void: The Federal Ministry of Education has invalidated Dr. Ifeanyi Bernard Odoh’s appointment as Vice Chancellor.
- Policy Violations: The university’s governing council violated policies and failed to reconcile with aggrieved parties.
- Legal Actions: Three professional associations filed lawsuits against the university, citing flaws in the appointment process.
- Next Steps: The university community awaits Ambassador Mbadiwe’s response to the Ministry’s demands.