The supervising Federal Ministry of Education has finally intervened to halt the messy fight between the second Governing Council and the Management of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), which led to the suspension of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Innocent Ujah on October 17, 2024.
In a letter last Friday, November 1, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo reversed the decision of the Governing Council which suspended the Vice Chancellor at a meeting where he was absent.
The Permanent Secretary also directed that Professor Ujah be reinstated as Vice Chancellor to complete his term of office which ends on November 6.
Dr. Gwarzo asserted in the letter that, “The Ministry notes that both the Vice Chancellor and the 2nd Council of FUHSO were wrong in one way or the other in managing the affairs of FUHSO which culminated in the suspension of the Vice Chancellor.”
“The Ministry regrets the deterioration of the official relationship between the 2nnd Council of FUHSO with the suspended Vice Chancellor (Professor Innocent Ujah),” the letter read.
The Permanent Secretary went further to affirm that the frosty relation between the two organs of the management of the institution “stunted the smooth running of the university.”
THE BACKGROUND: Benue Varsity Suspends Pioneer VC Over Alleged Misconduct
The letter was addressed to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University. It was a reply to the Chairman’s letter dated October 31st, 2024, titled: SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE AS VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROF. INNOCENT A. O. UJAH.”
The Ministry observed that even though it is within the statutory powers of the Council to suspend the Vice Chancellor, the 2nd Council acted outside the provisions of the University (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993, especially section 3(13) “which requires that in the event of vacancy in the office of the Vice Chancellor, the Council shall appoint an Acting Vice Chancellor on the recommendation of the Senate.”
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