BY Chinedu Nwafor
The Visitor to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Barr. Olugbenga Kukoyi as the new prochancellor and chairman of governing council.
Barr Kukoyi, current member of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka governing council was promoted based on what was described as restructuring to strengthen quality governance in the higher education sector of the nation.
This is in line with the countless agitations by the ASUU calling for more funding and good governance.
The puzzling part of the press release by the Special Adviser to the President Bayo Onanuga is that the two Acting Vice chancellors appointed by the president for UNN and Yakubu Gowon university, Abuja were barred from contesting for substantive position.
It is therefore clear that anyone in an acting position in any Nigerian university cannot vie for the substantive position.
This means that the current acting vice Chancellor of Unizik, Prof Joseph Ikechebelu will not be allowed to vie for the substantive position.
The case of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka is particularly touchy as the ASUU branch had kicked against appointing an acting vice chancellor who will vie for the substantive position using the resources of the university and incumbency to the disadvantage of other contestants.
ASUU’s position has now been reinforced by presidential directive which barred acting VCs for UNN and YGU, Abuja from vying for substantive positions.
Apart from the issue of election of new Vice Chancellor for Unizik, other contentious issues remain: Prof Joseph Ikechebelu assumed office as Acting VC on June 4, 2024.
Then, it was the University Senate that approved the appointment.
He remained in office until July 22, 2024 when he handed over to Prof Carol Arinze Umobi, an acting vice chancellor appointed by the then governing council.
Due to the fallout from the reckless disposition of the Greg Mbadiwe-led governing council in appointing an unqualified person as vice chancellor, the President dissolved the governing council and reinstated Prof Joseph Ikechebelu as acting Vice chancellor.
The emerging confusion is whether Prof Ikechebelu will serve for the remainder of the initial six months counting from June 4, 2024 which means he had utilized 46 days before he was removed.
If that is the case, Prof Ikechebelu is expected to vacate office as acting Vice Chancellor by March 26, 2025 and a new acting vice chancellor appointed.
However if the governing council decides to allow him complete a fresh six months counting from November 22, 2024 when he was reinstated, it would be clear he had spent 8 months in acting capacity.
WAY FORWARD
1. The new governing council ought to consult widely with Labour Unions in the university, especially ASUU whose member will eventually emerge as vice chancellor. Doing otherwise is inviting trouble to the beleaguered university that has been bedeviled by many crises in recent time.
2. Currently, UNIZIK has no deputy vice chancellors either for administration or academics.
As it is, the university is being run solely by the Acting vice chancellor assisted by two special advisers for administration and academic.
Creating adhoc positions for a big university such as UNIZIk is a misnomer.
The university governing council must insist that appointments must be based on merit and not at the whims and caprices of the outgoing acting VC.
3. The governing council must be fair to all contestants for the substantive VC.
Should there be any thought of allowing the current acting VC to contest for the substantive position, he must step aside immediately to create a level playing ground.
Still many sources in the university are of the firm opinion that Prof Joseph ikechebelu, having been a major part of the reccurring crises in the university since June 4, 2024 should not be allowed to contest as that is capable of overheating the university once again.
He who goes to equity must go with clean hands. If the governing council does not carry out due diligence in its duties by displaying transparency, the outcome will remain a huge challenge, and this should be avoided. UNIZIK needs peace.
