The last is yet to be heard about the appointment of Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka which began about one year ago.
Tomorrow, Thursday 15th May at 10am in a special meeting of the Senate the university will nominate its third acting Vice Chancellor since the power struggle which claimed Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh began last year.
In a circular marked: Ref. No.: NAU/RS/003/031 and titled: ‘NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SENATE’ and signed by the acting Registrar Mr. Victor I. Modebelu,members of the Senate were invited to nominate candidates for the position of Acting Vice Chancellor.
It will be recalled that earlier last year when appointment of Vice Chancellor of the University became rancorous, the Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa’s invoked a 2013 policy guideline on the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of Federal Institutions part of which stated that “In line with the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to promote equity, transparency, and integrity in the appointment process of Federal Tertiary Institutions, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has approved the implementation of a guiding policy on eligibility for the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts.
“This policy has become necessary following a pattern of undue advantage observed over the years, where officers serving in acting capacities often leverage their positions to influence appointment outcomes, thereby compromising the fairness and transparency of the selection process.
“To eliminate this practice, ensure a level playing field for all qualified candidates, and strengthen institutional governance, the policy stipulates that any officer serving in an acting capacity as Vice Chancellor, Rector, or Provost shall not be eligible to apply for the substantive position while still holding the acting appointment.
“However, in the interest of fairness, such officers may choose to recuse themselves from their acting positions before the expiration of their non-renewable six-month tenure, thereby becoming eligible to apply for the substantive roles.
“This policy is designed to complement the existing Federal Ministry of Education Guidelines for the Appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts (2013), along with all other extant regulations governing appointments in federal tertiary institutions”.
The policy urged Governing Councils, Managements, and relevant stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with the new directive.
It will be recalled that the current acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu acted following the expiration of the tenure of the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone. However, shortly he was removed and replaced with Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi. Barely five months after Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh was appointed substantive Vice Chancellor in controversial circumstances. Odoh was soon removed and Professor Ikechebelu was re-appointed as acting Vice Chancellor.
Now, Ikechebelu is gunning for the Vice Chancellor seat so in order to abide by the Federal Ministry of Education policy guidelines in the appointment of a Vice Chancellor, he will have to recuse himself from office for another uninterested candidate to take over the position while he contests the seat. That is why the nomination of another Acting Vice Chancellor became necessary#
