The Council meeting was fixed for the 29th and 30th of July 2024 to allow the Senate of the University to meet on the 24th of July 2024 and respond to Council requests. However, only yesterday 19th July, the Council Chairman sent a circular directing that the meeting be held today the 20th of July 2024. This, therefore, comes before the advertised Senate.
The Governing Council of the University met this Saturday 20th July 2024.
At the point of considering the issue of appointment of acting Vice-Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman narrated the content of a document signed by twenty-four professors of the University, purported to be a resolution of an emergency meeting of Senate held on 19th July 2024, nominating two professors, who were former Deputy Vice-Chancellors each above the age of sixty-five (65) years but below the age of seventy (70) years for appointment as acting Vice-Chancellor.
It is significant to note that the Senate of the University has a membership of well over five hundred (500) and that the purported meeting was not convened nor attended by the Registrar and Secretary to Senate, and the Acting Vice-Chancellor nor did it meet the quorum for senate meeting. The acting Vice-Chancellor and senate members of the Council, who were supported by others representing the statutory University bodies objected to the admission of this document on the ground that the purported resolution did not arise from a duly constituted meeting of the Senate and has been refuted by the Secretary of Senate in a circular to the University Council and the University community to be illegal and should be disregarded.
At this point the Vice-Chancellor’s copy of the Honourable Minister’s letter to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, through the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Ref. No. NUC/ES/141/VOL.18/481, dated 18th July 2024 directing that there should not be any limitation of age for this appointment was tabled before the Council. The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council refused to abide by this document and thereafter led the government appointees in the Council out of the Council Chamber. On return after some minutes, the chairman wanted to proceed with the illegality but was resisted by other members and they, the government appointees, again walked out and the meeting ended in this stalemate.
The Chairman came to the car park with his accompanying heavy military personnel which had terrorized the council members during the meeting, summoned Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi and presented her with an appointment letter as acting Vice-Chancellor without the recommendation of the Senate.
Below is the acting VC who they are trying to impose on the University being presented a certificate in a car park.
AIF Media
