Education
FUHSO Governing Council Defends Decision Against Reinstatement of Suspended VC
By Ugbede James
The Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), has publicly rejected the recent announcement of Prof. Stephen Obekpa Abah as Acting Vice-Chancellor, calling the appointment both unauthorized and invalid.
This opposition follows an order from Dr. Nasir S. Gwarzo, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, to reinstate the previously suspended Vice-Chancellor, Prof.
In an official statement, FUHSO highlighted that the circulated notice for Prof.
The meeting, allegedly orchestrated by Prof. Ujah, bypassed standard procedures, notably the Registrar’s role in issuing Senate meeting notices, as mandated by the FUHSO Establishment Act of 2022.
The Council further detailed that Prof. Ujah’s attempts to forcibly re-enter the G.R.A Otukpo Campus with armed personnel were successfully blocked by security. Despite this, he managed to hold a meeting at the university’s teaching hospital, where the purported appointment of Prof. Abah was announced.
The Council also referenced legal concerns surrounding Prof. Abah, who is reportedly under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They reiterated that Prof. Ujah, currently suspended, lacks the authority to call a Senate meeting or appoint successors.
The Council emphasized that Prof. Ediga Bede Agbo remains the rightful Acting Vice-Chancellor, urging staff, students, and the university community to disregard any claims made by Prof. Abah.
In response to the letter from the Permanent Secretary, the Governing Council firmly cited the Universities Miscellaneous Act 2003, stating that only the Governing Council possesses supreme governing authority over the university’s decisions. They expressed concern that Dr. Gwarzo’s directive not only undermines the Council’s role but could disrupt the prevailing calm on campus.
They urged Dr. Gwarzo to respect the university’s established governance, warning that his directive could incite unnecessary conflict within FUHSO.
Recalled that following the suspension of Prof. Ujah, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Nasir Gwarzo wrote a letter to counter the action.
The Governing Council however, issued a rebuttal, insisting that Prof Ujah stands suspended and can not therefore preside over a senate meeting, talk less appoint his own successor.
It is also contended that according to Section 2 (1)-(3) of the Universities Miscellaneous Act 2003:
“(1) The Governing Council of a university shall be the supreme governing authority of the university and shall be responsible for the general direction and superintendence of the university.” As such, the Council contends that a letter by the Permanent Secretary, Education can not invalidate the decision of the Governing Council.
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“The directive from the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education amounts to undue interference in the activities of the Council and an attempt to usurp the powers of the Council and emasculate it,” it was stated.
“The permanent secretary has suggested that the former Vice-Chancellor should be reinstated to restore peace on the campus. It suggests that he knows of a threat to peace, which is not manifest since the campus has not only been peaceful but jubilant since the former Vice-Chancellor was suspended. The Permanent Secretary may need to be held accountable for any breach of peace,” it was contended in another statement.
“The permanent secretary has failed to carry out a situation analysis of the university, so he is completely unaware of the loud jubilation that greeted the suspension of the former vice-chancellor,” it was concluded.
