- Tension Mounts: Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UniZik) is facing backlash and accusations of discrimination over the election process for its new Vice Chancellor ¹.
- Allegations of Bias: The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) accuses the University’s Governing Council of bias against its members and seeks legal intervention from the National Industrial Court.
- Calls for Postponement: MDCAN demands a postponement of the Vice Chancellor selection process until pressing issues are resolved.
- Potential Unrest: Stakeholders express concerns about potential unrest if alleged biases are not addressed.
- Controversy Surrounds Pro-Chancellor: Actions taken by the Pro-Chancellor since assuming office, particularly concerning the Vice Chancellor selection, have sparked controversy.
The crisis at UniZik stems from the revised qualification criteria for the Vice Chancellor role, which exclude candidates without a doctorate degree, disqualifying MDCAN members with administrative experience. The association alleges the Council is positioning a candidate with questionable qualifications and obtained a consent judgment from the National Industrial Court in Awka on October 19.
The university community has raised alarms over alleged discrimination by the Governing Council, prompting calls for intervention from President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Education to prevent an impending industrial crisis ¹. The university’s Senate recently requested the Council retract a contentious advertisement related to the election process, which was allegedly dismissed.
The situation remains tense, with plans to conduct interviews for the Vice Chancellor role underway this week, despite concerns about potential unrest.
