By Benjamin Akudo
The recent appointment of the Acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has sparked significant controversy, casting a shadow over the adherence to due process and the integrity of the university’s governing council. The events that transpired raise important questions about the governance of federal universities in Nigeria and the fidelity of their leadership to established legal frameworks.
According to the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions, Act (Amended) 2003, the composition of the governing council of every federal university in Nigeria is explicitly outlined. The council includes the Pro-Chancellor as Chairman, the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, a representative from the Ministry responsible for Education, five individuals representing a variety of interests and broadly representative of the whole federation appointed by the President, four members appointed by the Senate, two members appointed by the Congregation, and one person appointed by Convocation. Section 2(2) of the Act mandates that appointees to the council must be individuals of proven integrity, knowledgeable, and familiar with university traditions. The council is broadly divided into external members (government appointees) and internal members (university appointees and officers).
A critical responsibility of the council, as stipulated by the university act, is the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor or an Acting Vice Chancellor on the recommendation of the Senate. When the tenure of the previous Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, ended on June 3, 2024, the federal university councils had not yet been constituted following their dissolution by President Tinubu. Consequently, in the absence of the council, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, the only Deputy Vice Chancellor at that time, was presented to the university Senate to act as Vice Chancellor in accordance with the provisions of the university act. The act allows a Deputy Vice Chancellor to act in the place of the Vice Chancellor when the position is vacant. This interim arrangement was intended to hold until the council could formally appoint a new Vice Chancellor.
The new council of UNIZIK was inaugurated on July 4, 2024, with Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe as chairman and other federal appointees. Internal members elected by various key organs of the university are expected to serve out their tenure by March 2025. During the council’s initial meeting on July 6, 2024, the issue of appointing an Acting Vice Chancellor was tabled but deferred. The chairman and other external members decided they needed more time to study the university act before making a decision.
However, controversy ensued when a memo from the chairman directed the Senate to nominate two former Deputy Vice Chancellors aged between 66 and 70 years for consideration as Acting Vice Chancellor. This directive, issued without a formal council meeting, raised several procedural questions. For instance, was it within the chairman’s purview to issue such directives in writing, rather than during a council session? Additionally, should the council dictate conditions for Senate recommendations?
Despite scheduling a Senate meeting for July 24, the chairman sent another memo rescheduling the council meeting to July 20, 2024. Meanwhile, a group of thirty-five professors, through a WhatsApp platform, organized an emergency Senate meeting on July 19 to nominate two former Deputy Vice Chancellors within the age range specified by the chairman. A document emerged from this meeting, allegedly signed by twenty-four professors (with some signatures reportedly forged), nominating Prof. Carol Arinze-Umeobi and Prof. F. J. C. Odibo as Senate nominees for the council’s consideration.
The legitimacy of this emergency Senate meeting is highly questionable. The university act stipulates that only the chairman of the Senate, or a delegate in their absence, can convene a Senate meeting. The act also requires a quorum of one-quarter of Senate members and stipulates that ten members can request a Senate meeting through the chairman. None of these requirements were met for the purported emergency meeting.
When the council convened on July 20, 2024, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umeobi was present, sitting aside. As the council began discussing the appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor, the chairman presented the document from the alleged emergency Senate meeting, bypassing the expected deliberative process. Despite objections from legitimate council and Senate members, the chairman disregarded a letter from the Minister of Education, which removed age restrictions for the appointment.
The situation escalated when the chairman, supported by military personnel, presented Prof. Carol Arinze-Umeobi with an appointment letter as Acting Vice Chancellor without Senate recommendation. This action starkly contradicts the university act, which clearly outlines the processes for such appointments.
Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe’s actions, claiming that Prof. Ikechebelu is not the Acting Vice Chancellor while simultaneously violating the university act, reflect a troubling disregard for established procedures and governance. This situation not only undermines the integrity of the institution but also sets a dangerous precedent for university administration in Nigeria.
The fallout from this debacle has left the university community and observers questioning the motives behind these actions and the future direction of UNIZIK. The chairman’s arbitrary decisions and the heavy-handed approach raise concerns about transparency and accountability in university governance. The involvement of military personnel further exacerbates these concerns, suggesting an attempt to intimidate and coerce compliance rather than fostering an environment of collaborative and lawful decision-making.
As this drama continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether due process will be restored and whether those who have circumvented the law will be held accountable. This episode underscores the critical need for transparency, adherence to legal provisions, and integrity in university governance. The credibility of UNIZIK as an institution of higher learning hinges on resolving this crisis in a manner that upholds the principles of fairness and justice.
In conclusion, the appointment of the Acting Vice Chancellor at UNIZIK has highlighted significant flaws in the university’s governance system. The actions taken by the chairman and the external council members have not only violated the university act but have also undermined the confidence of the university community in their leadership. Restoring trust and integrity will require a recommitment to the rule of law and the principles that underpin university governance. Only time will tell if UNIZIK can navigate through this contentious period and emerge with its institutional credibility intact.
• Dr. Akudo, an alumnus of UNIZIK, writes from Awka