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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The substantive Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Professor Agwu Ekwe, yesterday, took charge of the leadership of the college.
The college was engulfed in crisis on Monday, when he attempted to assume duty with the academic and non-academic staffs of the college, locking the school gate and the Provost’s office over his appointment, which they described as unacceptable and non-compliance with Colleges of Agriculture rules on appointment of a Provost.
The situation, which caused tension and confusion in the college, forced the new Provost out of the institution while academic and non-academic staff unions protested round the college which paralysed academic activities.
Chairman of Joint Union Action of the institution, Dr. ThankGod Nwaneri, said two Provosts; Dr. Jonah Nwawuisi and Professor Agwu Ekwe, gave him instructions which he abandoned because he was confused on the one to obey.
“Before now, we had an Acting Provost in the person of Dr. Jonah Nwawuisi. And I may say this is an illegal appointment that was made on the 10th of April, 2026, when they said they appointed one Professor Agwu Ekwe.
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“As a matter of fact, we do not know the actual Provost for now because, yesterday, two different persons gave me instructions as provosts and I abandoned the instructions because I don’t know the one to follow.
“The issue on ground is we have qualified persons who applied for the position and since after the submission of their applications credentials, they have not been invited for interviews either oral or written till today”, he said
However, there was a twist on the crisis yesterday, when the substantive Provost took over the control of the college. The entrance gate, which the academic and non-academic unions locked, was broken, and the Provost entered the college and addressed staff and students of the school. There was a heavy presence of security agencies in the school when he took control of the college.
“The Acting Provost, Dr. Nwawuisi Jonah, has handed over to the new Provost, and he can’t say no to it because it is a federal government directive.
“The new Provost came in with soldiers, policemen, DSS officials and I told the joint union people not to resist him or do any fight, they should be civil.
“So, the Joint Union Action (JUA) allowed the security agencies to break the gate and the new Provost entered the college and addressed those he saw in the college”, National President of Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture, Dr. Kadurumba Chukwuemeka told Daily Sun.
