ASUU Petitions Education Minister, Accuses Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s Pro-Chancellor, Amb. Mbadiwe, Of Misconduct, Abuse Of Power
The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) chapter, has petitioned the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, over alleged misconduct, dictatorship and abuse of power by the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, who is also the Chairman of the university’s Governing Council.
ASUU in the petition dated October 21, 2024 and signed by its Chairperson, Comrade Kingsley Ubaoji, said if the alarming dictatorial actions and tendencies displayed by Mbadiwe are not checked, it may affect industrial peace in the university.
ASUU alleged that since July 4, 2024, when Councils of Federal Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education were inaugurated, the Pro-Chancellor has consistently disregarded the authority of the Council, “acting unilaterally and making decisions without proper consultation and approval.”
The petition noted that the Pro-Chancellor has specifically made unilateral decisions without full composition of Council.
“Section 2(1) of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2023, on “Composition of Council”: provide as follows: There shall be a council for each of the Universities consisting of-
“(a) the Pro-Chancellor; (b) the Vice-Chancellor; (c) the Deputy Vice-Chancellors; (d) one person from the Federal Ministry responsible for Education; (e) four persons representing a variety of interest and broadly representative of the whole Federation to be appointed by the National Council of Ministers;
“(f) four persons appointed by the Senate from among its members; (g) two persons appointed by the Congregation from among its members; and (h) one person appointed by Convocation from among its members,” the petition added.
ASUU said at the time of the inauguration of the Council, only appointments in respect of 2(1)(a) and 2(1)(e) had been made, “Yet without caring to properly compose Council, the Pro- Chancellor with the 4 persons appointed as in 2(1)(e) proceeded to appoint an Acting Vice Chancellor and advertised for vacancy position of the Registrar, neglecting to include members representing university internal constituencies of Senate (4), Congregation (2) and Convocation (1).”
According to the petition, ASUU NAU wrote a letter to the Pro-Chancellor in September requesting the proper composition of the Council before proceeding further with any business of the Council.
It said the Pro-Chancellor’s attention was drawn to the provisions of the law and he was reminded that any action not in line the law is null and void and will be resisted.
“Though ASUU did not receive any official reply to the letter, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Carol Arinze-Umobi on 11th September 2024, being the next day, released a timetable for the election to fill the vacant positions of representatives of Senate, Congregation and Convocation as provided for in Section 2(1)(f), 2(1)(g), and 2(1)(h) respectively of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions)(Amendment) Act,” it said.
The petition stated that despite ASUU NAU’s letter of protest, the Pro-Chancellor continued to act unilaterally by directing the publication of the vacancy for the position of Vice Chancellor before the election of members of the internal constituencies.
“It is regretful that the Chairman defied all attempts by the Internal members of Council during the inaugural meeting of Council to get him to withdraw the vacancy publication or to put up a corrigendum to remove some ominous criteria listed for eligibility for the position of Vice Chancellor.
“When the Senate was convened for this purpose on Wednesday 16th October, members expressed great reservations over the dictatorial disposition of the Chairman of Council, and the failure to redress the ominous eligibility criteria published for the selection of a new Vice Chancellor which suggests that the advert must have been drawn from someone’s CV.
“In protest, Senate deferred the nominations and called for a review of such ominous criteria in consonance with the known and widely accepted criteria as is published by many other universities and NAU previously.”
The petition noted that the Senate also requested for a joint meeting with the Council to smoothen the rough edges but the Pro-Chancellor has on his own selected or directed the selection of two professors to serve on the interview panel for Registrar, calling the bluff of the Senate.
“We were further shocked to learn that without consultations with other members of Council, the Chairman has fixed Wednesday 23 September 2024 for the selection interview for a Registrar of the University.
“We were informed by our representatives in Council and we believe them that the Council meeting was adjourned to a future date (yet to be announced) in November 2024.
“At the time of this letter, they are yet to be informed of any such Council meeting or selection activity,” the petition added.
