EducationNewsNigeriaCrisis at UNIZIK: ASUU Accuses Pro-Chancellor, Mbadiwe of Law Violations

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) chapter, has appealed to  President Bola Tinubu, demanding immediate action to curb what they describe as the unlawful actions of the University’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe.

In a statement issued to the press, Comrade Kingsley Ubaoji, Chairperson of ASUU NAU, called for urgent intervention to stop the Pro-Chancellor from further disregarding due process in the appointment of principal officers.

 According to Ubaoji, the Chairman’s actions undermine the university’s institutional processes, tarnish its reputation, and could lead to widespread unrest among staff and students and warned that the Pro-Chancellor’s “dictatorial tendencies” are eroding trust within the institution and threatening to plunge the university into chaos

ASUU cautioned that if unchecked, the Pro-Chancellor’s actions could have severe consequences, including the destabilization of the university’s governance.

“The union’s grievances center around the Pro-Chancellor’s unilateral actions, particularly his disregard for the proper composition of the University Council, which is required by law to include representatives from the Senate, Congregation, and Convocation. Instead, the Chairman has allegedly made key decisions, such as appointing an Acting Vice-Chancellor and advertising for the position of Registrar, without involving these internal constituencies”.

ASUU NAU stated that they had repeatedly drawn the Pro-Chancellor’s attention to these legal requirements, including in a letter dated 10th September 2024. Despite these warnings, the Chairman allegedly proceeded to advertise for the position of Vice Chancellor in the Vanguard newspaper on 12th September 2024, without waiting for the proper election of the university’s internal representatives.

The union also expressed concerns about the selection criteria published for the Vice Chancellor position, which they claim appears tailored to suit a specific individual. ASUU highlighted the unusual requirement for candidates to have attracted research grants totaling not less than N400 million, a criterion they argue is overly restrictive and not a standard practice in other Nigerian universities. This, they believe, is part of a larger plan to impose a predetermined candidate on the institution.

Further complicating matters, ASUU alleged that the Pro-Chancellor bypassed the University Senate’s role in nominating representatives for the selection committee. In protest, the Senate deferred its nominations for the Vice Chancellor selection committee on 16th October 2024, citing concerns over the Pro-Chancellor’s refusal to amend the eligibility criteria and his unilateral decision-making.

ASUU NAU also disclosed that the Pro-Chancellor has scheduled a selection interview for the position of Registrar for 23rd October 2024, without proper consultation with other Council members. The union noted that Council meetings, particularly those of such importance, usually require weeks of notice to allow members to adjust their schedules. Yet, the Pro-Chancellor allegedly acted unilaterally once again, further intensifying tensions within the University.

Ubaoji stressed that the union had written multiple letters protesting these developments, including a letter on 14th September 2024, titled “Request for the Withdrawal of Vacancy Advertisements and Suspension of Actions Until Proper Constitution of Council.” Despite these efforts, the Pro-Chancellor has reportedly continued to act without regard for the contributions of the university’s internal representatives, which ASUU claims is a clear breach of governance laws.

ASUU warned that the ongoing actions of the Pro-Chancellor, if allowed to persist, would not only erode trust within the institution but also lead to institutional instability and damage the university’s credibility. The union called on the general public to join them in opposing the Pro-Chancellor’s “dictatorial tendencies” and insisted that the university’s leadership must respect the principles of collective governance and due process.

“We will not condone any further violation of this Ivory Tower,” Ubaoji declared, affirming ASUU’s readiness to defend the integrity of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. The union urged the press to shine a light on these actions, calling for immediate intervention to prevent the situation from escalating into a full-blown crisis.