The Educational Employees Union of Universities, ASUU, of the Michael Okpara College of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU, has petitioned President Bola Tinubu to intervene within the establishment’s 57th inaugural lecture, scheduled for Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
Within the petition, ASUU referred to as for the cancellation of the lecture, alleging irregularities surrounding the professorship of the scheduled inaugural lecturer, Professor Raphael Echebiri.
A press release signed by M. Ugwuene, chairperson of ASUU-MOUAU, and E. C. Osodeke, secretary of the union, claimed that Echebiri’s professorship, initially granted in the course of the administration of former Vice Chancellor Professor Hilary Edeoga, was later revoked. They additional alleged that the present administration reinstated Echebiri’s promotion with out addressing considerations raised previously.
The union referenced a letter despatched to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, on August 26, 2024, reminding him of a report by the MOUAU Visitation Panel. In accordance with the report, Echebiri’s promotion had not adopted due course of.
“We demand that the inaugural lecture be cancelled and that the Vice Chancellor chorus from selling illegality throughout the college. Such actions threat taking the college again to an period of impunity and tarnishing its public picture,” the ASUU assertion learn.
In response, Ubadire Agua, Head of the Public Relations Unit at MOUAU, dismissed ASUU’s claims, stating that the college’s Senate, which incorporates ASUU members, had authorised Professor Echebiri because the inaugural lecturer.Agua defended the Vice Chancellor, describing him as a person dedicated to peace and institutional improvement. He affirmed that the lecture would proceed as scheduled, emphasising that the present ambiance of peace and progress at MOUAU shouldn’t be disrupted.
“The inaugural lecture will maintain as deliberate. The Vice Chancellor has all the time prioritised equity and the general good of the establishment,” Agua said.
The disagreement has sparked considerations in regards to the affect of inside disputes on the establishment’s popularity and governance, drawing consideration to broader problems with transparency and due course of in academia.
