Embattled Nnamdi Azikiwe University VC, Odoh, Mandates All Staff Members To Attend His First Meeting With University Community Amid Leadership Crisis
Odoh in an internal memo to Deans, Directors & HODS with Ref. No: NAU/VC/380/VOL.VI/251 and signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Public Relations, Dr Emmanuel C. Ojukwu, warned that attendance will be duly noted, mandating all staff members to attend the meeting.
The newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Bernard Odoh, on Tuesday, compelled all Deans, Directors, Deputy Directors, Deputy Bursars, Deputy Registrars, Heads of Department, and indeed all staff members of the University to attend his first interactive meeting with the university community.
The meeting was scheduled to start at 1:00pm on Tuesday.
Odoh in an internal memo to Deans, Directors & HODS with Ref. No: NAU/VC/380/VOL.VI/251 and signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Public Relations, Dr Emmanuel C. Ojukwu, warned that attendance will be duly noted, mandating all staff members to attend the meeting.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) chapter, were advised to boycott any meetings or invitations called by Odoh until issues surrounding his appointment were resolved.
Chairperson of ASUU NAU, Kingsley Ubaoji, who gave the directive, specifically warned members not to attend today’s (Tuesday) 1 pm meeting convened by Odoh.
The notice noted that Odoh’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor has been challenged, with a court order barring him from holding the position and the Ministry of Education nullifying his appointment.
In light of this development, ASUU members were cautioned against participating in any activities led by Odoh until the resolution of the matter.
However, Odoh through his adviser on Information and Public Relations in the memo dated November 5, 2024, regretted that some shadowy individuals have been going around and trying to dissuade some University staff members from attending the scheduled interactive session.
The memo obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday is titled: “Mandatory Attendance To Vice-Chancellor’s Interactive Session With The University Community.”
It partly reads: “It has come to the notice of the University authorities that some shadowy individuals have been going around trying to dissuade some University staff from attending the scheduled interactive session with the new Vice-Chancellor Prof. Benard Ifeanyi Odoh today November 5, 2024 by 1pm.
“This is therefore to inform all Deans, Directors, Deputy Directors, Deputy Bursars, Deputy Registrars, Heads of Department, and indeed all staff of the University, that this meeting with the Vice-Chancellor is mandatory.
“Attendance will be duly noted. Therefore, all staff are requested to attend.”
On Sunday, November 3, SaharaReporters reported that the Federal Ministry of Education had declared the recent appointment of Bernard Odoh as the Vice-Chancellor of the school as null and void.
The Governing Council of the University on October 29 appointed Odoh as the school’s 7th substantive vice-chancellor.
Odoh was appointed by the University’s Governing Council led by the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, following interviews with 15 candidates shortlisted for the position.
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 had been 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.”
However, Odoh has insisted on the validity of his appointment. In a statement issued by his Personal Media Assistant, Mr Charles Otu, Odoh said the Federal Ministry of Education has no legal power to nullify and void his appointment.
