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ASUU Asks National Industrial Court To Nullify Appointments Of Nnamdi Azikiwe University VC, Registrar Over Alleged Illegality

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ASUU Asks National Industrial Court To Nullify Appointments Of Nnamdi Azikiwe University VC, Registrar Over Alleged Illegality

 

They want the court to declare that the unilateral selection, appointment, and composition of the Selection Board for the appointment of the Registrar of the University on October 21, 2024 and the Vice Chancellor on October 29, is illegal, null and void, ultra vires, and of no effect.

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Anambra has filed a legal action against the appointment of Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh and Mrs Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike as the Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the University.

In the suit filed on Tuesday October 29, at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in the Awka Judicial Division, marked suit no. NICN/AWK/52/2024, the Claimants sought among others order of perpetual injunction restraining the duo from parading themselves and/or performing the functions of the Registrar and Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

 

They want the court to declare that the unilateral selection, appointment, and composition of the Selection Board for the appointment of the Registrar of the University on October 21, 2024 and the Vice Chancellor on October 29, is illegal, null and void, ultra vires, and of no effect.

The Claimants avowed that the selection processes of their appointments violate sections 2, 2AA, 3 (2) and 10 of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993 (as amended 2007 and 2012) and section 7 of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Act 1992.

The Claimants also noted that the external members of the Governing Council can validly set the criteria of the qualification for the post of the Vice Chancellor of the University and Registrar and proceed to publish advertisement for the vacancy of the post without the full composition of the Council.

The suit which was filed by Onyeka B. Ehiwuogwu Esq., has Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Nnamdi Azikiwe University Chapter, Prof. Kingsley Ubaoji (Chairperson, ASUU NAU), Prof. Stanley C. Udedi and Prof. Greg Orji Obiamalu as 1st to 4th Claimants.

 

It indicated that (2nd-4th Claimants are suing for themselves and representing the interest of Concerned Members of Academic Staff Union of Universities Nnamdi Azikiwe University, who are members of the Senate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University).

 

Listed as the 1st to 14th Defendants are Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Council, Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Pro-Chancellor Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Amb. Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe (The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Nnamdi Azikiwe University); Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Registrar, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Mrs Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike; Prof. Kenneth Ngwoke; Prof. Anthony Okoye; Prof. Chinedu Onyeizugbe; Dr. Ngozi Obiekwe J.; Prof. Chigozie Damian Ezeonyejiaku; Prof Isaac Nwankwo and Dr. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh as the 1st to 14th Defendants.

 

The Claimants in the Suit which commenced by way of originating summons, formulated 11 questions for determination and upon the resolutions of the questions, sought 25 reliefs from the court which borders on the nullification of the appointments.

 

Among the questions posed for determination is “Whether by the combined reading of sections 2, 2AA, 3 (2) and 10 of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993 (as amended 2003, 2007 and 2012) and section 7 of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Act 1992, the setting of criteria of qualification for the post of the Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant and the publication of advertisement for the vacancy of the post of the Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant without the full composition of the 2nd Defendant is not illegal, null and void, ultra vires and of no effect?

 

“Whether by the combined reading of sections 2, 2AA, 7 and 10 of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993 (as amended 2003, 2007 and 2012) and section 7 of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Act 1992, the 3rd Defendant (acting in the person of the 4th Defendant) can unilaterally select, appoint, and compose the Selection Board for the Appointment of the Registrar of the 1st Defendant as done 21st October 2024?”

 

One of the reliefs the Plaintiffs sought is a court declaration that the external members of the 2nd Defendant lack the vires and authority to validly set the criteria of qualification for the post of the Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant and proceed to publish advertisement for the vacancy of the post of the Vice Chancellor of the 1 Defendant on 12th September 2024, without the full composition of the 2nd Defendant.

 

They also sought: “A declaration that the 3rd Defendant (acting in the person of the 4th Defendant) lacks the vires, authority and legal capacity to unilaterally select, appoint, and compose the Search Team for the Appointment of the Substantive Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant as done on the 22nd October 2024.

 

“A declaration that the 3rd Defendant (acting in the person of the 4th Defendant) lacks the vires, authority and legal capacity to unilaterally select, appoint, and compose the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board for the Selection and Appointment of Substantive Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant as done 22nd October 2024.

 

“A declaration that the unilateral selection, appointment, and composition of the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board for the Selection and Appointment of the Substantive Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant, as done by the 3rd Defendant (acting in the person of the 4th Defendant) on 22nd October 2024 is Illegal, null and void, ultra vires, and of no effect.”

 

The Claimants also seek for “an order setting aside the criteria of qualification for the post of the Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant and the publication advertisement for the vacancy of the post of the Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant on 12th September 2024, which was done without the full composition of the 2nd Defendant.

 

“An Order setting aside the unilateral selection, appointment, and composition of the Search Team for the Appointment of the Substantive Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant, as done by the 3rd Defendant (acting in the person of the 4th Defendant) on 22nd October 2024.

 

“An Order setting aside the unilateral selection, appointment, and composition of the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board for the Selection and Appointment of the Substantive Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant, as done by the 3rd Defendant (acting in the person of the 4th Defendant) on 22nd October 2024.

 

“An Order setting aside the illegal and illegitimate procedure set in motion for the selection and appointment of a Substantive Vice Chancellor for the 1st Defendant as imposed by the external members of the 2nd Defendant and the 3rd Defendant (acting in the person of the 4th Defendant).

 

“An Order setting aside any such selection and appointment of any Substantive Vice Chancellor of the 1st Defendant by the illegal and illegitimate procedure set in motion for that purpose, as imposed by the external members of the 2nd Defendant and the 3rd Defendant (acting in the person of the 4th Defendant).”

 

They also sought an “order of perpetual injunction restraining the 7th Defendant from parading herself and/or performing the functions of the Registrar, Nnamdi Azikiwe University pursuant to her illegitimate appointment by a Selection Board unilaterally selected, appointed and composed by the 3rd Defendant (acting in the person of the 4th Defendant) on 23rd October 2024.”

Meanwhile, a source in the school told SaharaReporters that the chairman of the Governing Council, Mbadiwe, was nominated by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma ensure the emergence of Odoh as the VC of the school.

“The plan is to install this Odoh to be the VC in preparation for 2027. The man is not even a professor,” the source added.

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Education

Tinubu approves redeployment of four federal permanent secretaries

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April 29, 2025

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the redeployment of four federal permanent secretaries.

A statement from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation said the redeployment is in line with ongoing efforts to strengthen the operations of the Federal Civil Service and reposition it for greater efficiency and service delivery.

It said the reassignment is also part of continuous efforts to enhance operational efficiency, foster innovation and strengthen service delivery across the Federal Civil Service in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

The affected Permanent Secretaries and their new postings are as follows: Dr. Mary Ada Ogbe, from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to the Ministry of Regional Development to understudy the Permanent Secretary who will be retiring on 7th May, 2025 2; Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development 3. Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi, from Ministry of Budget & Economic Development to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Mr Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, from Special Duties Office, OHCSF to the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack emphasized that the redeployment is a routine administrative process designed to reinvigorate the civil service by leveraging the expertise of top officials in critical sectors.

She urged the affected permanent secretaries to bring their wealth of experience to bear in their new roles, ensuring seamless service delivery and sustained progress in their respective ministries.

According to the directive, all handover and taking-over processes are to be completed on or before 2nd May 2025

The Federal Government said it remains committed to building a world-class civil service that drives national development and upholds the highest standards of professionalism.

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Education

We officially start at 8am – JAMB responds to Obi’s criticisms of early exam time

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April 28, 2025

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has debunked criticisms by a former Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, over the early resumption time for its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Ekwutosblog recalls that Obi in a post on his official X handle on Sunday, publicly condemned reports of JAMB asking candidates, generally teenagers, to travel to examination centres as early as 6:30 am despite security concerns.

Obi described the situation as “reckless,” citing incidents of accidents and missing candidates and blamed it on what he called Nigeia’s poor infrastructure in education.

 

But in a reaction, JAMB clarified that while candidates are expected to arrive by 6:30 am for verification and clearance, the examinations officially begin at 8:00 am.

According to the exam body, the early arrival was needed to prevent late-coming, which could disorganized the exercise.

“Your Excellency, I must assert that our examination is scheduled to commence at 8:00am, not 6:00 am,” JAMB wrote on X.

“While verification and other clearance processes begins at 6:30am, it is imperative that candidates are afforded adequate time to settle in before the exam begins.

“Given the tendencies often observed among Nigerians to arrive late when a start time is set without space for eventuality, this structured timeline is essential to ensure that all candidates are properly prepared and can perform to the best of their abilities.”

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Education

Corps members relocating from Edo over non-payment of allowances, others – NYSC

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2 days ago

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April 28, 2025

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NYSC
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The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has expressed concerns over the high rate of corps members relocating from Edo to other states.

Ekwutosblog reports that the state Coordinator of the Corps, Mrs Frances Ben-Ushie, expressed the concern at the weekend during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members.

Ben-Ushie attributed the high rate of relocation of corps members from the state to a lack of feeding augmentation during the orientation course, as well as non-payment of State allowance to serving corps members.

 

According to her, lack of feeding augmentation during the orientation course, as well as non-payment of State allowance to serving corps members, had resulted in massive relocation of corps members to other states.

The Coordinator, who called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to kindly intervene in addressing the challenges, opined that resolving the challenges would greatly enhance the effectiveness of the orientation programme and other NYSC activities in the State for greater impact.

She also listed another challenge confronting corps members in the permanent orientation camp located in Okada, Ovia North-East Local Government Area as a lack of provision of annual State subvention to enhance the operations of the scheme in the scheme as stipulated in the NYSC Act.

She also called on the Edo Government to help build more hostel accommodation for corps members at the state’s permanent orientation camp.

Ben-Ushie noted that there was a need to urgently address critical infrastructure and logistical challenges affecting the smooth implementation of NYSC programmes in the state.

While also bemoaning the inadequate environment, she appealed for better workshops, laboratories, and other facilities to enhance the hands-on training for NYSC’s skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programme

“Inadequate hostel facilities for corps members and camp officials continue to pose a major challenge.

“With increasing numbers of participants each year, we urgently need expanded accommodation to ensure comfort and safety.

“We also appealed to the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo to help in resolving electricity and water challenges at the camp. These have significantly increased the operational costs of running the orientation camp.

“There is a need for the completion of the main access gate into the orientation camp as well as to provide operational vehicles for monitoring and inspection of corps members across the state.

“Unavailability of a multipurpose hall, as the dining hall is presently utilized for all hall activities.

“Lack of distinct demarcation and documentation of the extension of the camp premises which has resulted in encroachment by unauthorized individuals”, she added.

She, however, commended the state government for its continued provision of buses for the transportation of corps members to their various places of primary assignment.

In his address, the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, urged the new corps members to tap into the numerous opportunities in the state, cutting across agriculture, education, technology, entrepreneurship, and tourism.

Okpebholo, who was represented by Mrs. Aiyegbeni Balogun, the Functioning Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, assured the NYSC members of their welfare, safety, and security in the state.

“From the moment you arrived in Edo, we have worked diligently to ensure that the environment is conducive for you to thrive, contribute meaningfully, and enjoy a fulfilling year.

“Your contributions to Edo, whether in education, healthcare, agriculture, or community development, will have a lasting impact on our social and economic landscape.

“This is your chance not only to give back to society but leave a legacy that inspires others,” he said.

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