The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the appointment of Prof. Benard Odoh as the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, otherwise known as UNIZIK.
ASUU also rejected the appointment of Mrs. Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike as Registrar of the school, describing the actions as a huge joke and a mockery of the academia.
The Union noted that aside from the illegality of the processes leading to the appointment of the two principal staff members of the university, Prof. Odoh is unqualified for the office of Vice Chancellor.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement yesterday (Monday, November 18), said the Union was surprised that despite the complaints and agitations against the planned appointments, the Amb.Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council, went ahead to make pronouncements on the matter.
ASUU President further raised concerns about the reported exclusion of internal members of Council in the appointment proceedings, as well as the alleged exclusion of the Senate from the nomination of its representatives into the requisite Committees for the selection processes as provided by the law of the university.
He said: “We insist that the action of the Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council has no place in the university law and tradition; it must therefore be addressed without delay.
“The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union, at its meeting at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, resolved that the appointment of Dr. Benard Odoh, the purported “Vice Chancellor” and Mrs. Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike, the purported “Registrar” cannot stand, given its illegality and mockery of the university system.
“From all evidence available to us, Benard Odoh is not a full professor but was purportedly appointed the Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK by the Amb. Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council in total disregard for the advertised eligibility criteria for the position of a vice-chancellor of the university.
“The continued stay in office by these imposed individuals constitutes a deliberate act of provocation and invitation to anarchy at the university. NEC resolved to resist any further act of impunity, lawlessness, violation of the rights of academics and acts of intimidation and witch-hunt by the pseudo authorities at UNIZIK.”
Consequently, ASUU called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Visitor to the university, to act fast in order to maintain academic and industrial peace and harmony in UNIZIK.
“For the avoidance of doubt, ASUU, like many other stakeholders in UNIZIK, does not have
confidence in the Amb. Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council, and the Visitor should urgently intervene to redirect the university on the path of order, law and due process,” Prof. Osodeke requested.
