The Federal Ministry of Education has voided the appointment of Prof Bernard Odoh as the vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Odoh, a former governorship candidate in Ebonyi State during the 2023 general elections, emerged the seventh substantive VC of UNIZIK on Tuesday following his announcement by the Governing Council of the university.
However, the Federal Ministry of Education has declared his emergence as null and void.
In a letter addressed to the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council by Mrs. R. G. Ilyasu for the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, and dated November 1, the ministry said it was agreed that there would be no appointments without reconciliation with the aggrieved parties of the school.
The letter reads, “Sequel to your meeting with the Honourable Minister of State for Education, (HMSE) held on Friday, 25th October, 2024, it was formally agreed that no appointments should be carried out by your Council without reconciling with the aggrieved parties in the University Community.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry that your Council had gone ahead to appoint a Vice Chancellor for the University without the Representative of the Ministry, the internal council members and other Stakeholders on Tuesday, 29th October, 2024. This is a gross disregard to constituted Authority and is not in line with Extant provisions.
“Against this backdrop, I am directed to inform you that all appointments made so far are null and void. You are therefore requested to put on hold all other appointments in the University pending the assumption on duty of the new Honourable Minister of Education.”
The letter was copied to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission.
There is yet any reaction from the authorities of UNIZIK.