FUHSO and the Cost of Governing Without Foresight

Dr. Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, speaking at a podium while addressing an audience.

The crisis at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo exposes the cost of establishing critical institutions without adequate planning, funding discipline, and accountability, leaving medical students and Nigeria’s health system at risk.

Sacked Ag. VC sues FUHSO, Education Minister over unlawful removal

The Acting Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), Professor Ediga Bede Agbo, has asked the National Industrial Court Markurdi, to declare his removal unlawful. In the right suit, Professor Agbo insisted that the plan by the defendants to replace him jeopardizes his reputation and disrupts university governance. Specifically, he wants an order of the Court nullifying all decisions taken as well as all acts done, at the said invalid meeting of the Senate of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo held on the 29th day of November, 2024. He, therefore, pledged to pay damages to the tune of N2,5 million, if the injunction is deemed unnecessary at the end of the trial. Also mentioned as the defendants in the matter are the Honourable Minister of Education, the university’s Senate, and its Governing Council. Professor Agbo, who was appointed on October 17, 2024, claims that his removal is without justification challenging an attempt to appoint Professor Stephen Obekpa Abah, a non-staff member, as the Acting Vice Chancellor. He wants interlocutory orders of the court for recognition of appointments through a directive for the university to maintain his position as Acting Vice Chancellor, with all accompanying rights and privileges. He also wants an order of injunction preventing the defendants from appointing Professor Abah or any other individual as the Acting Vice Chancellor pending the hearing and determination of the suit. In an affidavit in support of his claims, deposed by him, the defendant maintained that his appointment aligns with statutory provisions as the most senior professor at FUHSO. He challenges the validity of Professor Abah’s earlier appointment as Deputy Vice Chancellor, citing a lack of Senate approval. He further alleges that Professor Abah, still affiliated with Ambrose Alli University and without a formal transfer to FUHSO, does not meet eligibility requirements. In conclusion, he submitted that the university’s actions threaten to destabilize academic and administrative operations, undermining due process. In the originating summon, the plaintiff wants the court to determine: Whether or not having regard to relevant sections of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (Establishment) Act, 2022, the Registrar of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo can hold any valid Meeting of the Senate of the University without issuing a Notice of such a Meeting to the Claimant, who is the Acting Vice Chancellor and most Senior Professor at the University and therefore a Statutory Member of the Senate of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State. Whether or not the outcome of any meeting of the Senate of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, convened without giving the Claimant Notice of such a meeting, is not invalid and therefore, null and void. Upon the determination of the above questions, the Plaintiff wants the court to declare that the Claimant, being the Acting Vice-Chancellor and most senior professor at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo is a statutory member of the Senate of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo and entitled to receive Notices of all Meetings of the Senate of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State. He also wants the court to declare that the Meeting of the Senate of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo held on the 29th day of November, 2024 is invalid and all decisions taken and all acts done, at the said invalid meeting are therefore null and void.

FUHSO Governing Council Opposes Perm Sec on Re-instatement of VC, Appointment of Acting Vice-Chancellor

The Management of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), has issued a statement condemning the purported appointment of Prof. Stephen Obekpa Abah as Acting Vice-Chancellor. The Governing Council also opposed the action of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Nasir S. Gwarzo, whereby he ordered the re-instatement of the suspended erstwhile Vice Chancellor, Prof Innocent Ujah. According to the statement, the appointment of Prof. Abah, circulated on social media on November 5, 2024, stems from an unauthorized and illegal meeting orchestrated by the suspended Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Innocent A. O. Ujah. The university clarified that the notice for the meeting was issued using the letterhead of the suspended Vice-Chancellor, bypassing the established protocols, specifically the role of the Registrar, who is responsible for issuing notices for Senate meetings.  The Registrar, who is the official Secretary of the Senate under the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (Establishment) Act of 2022, was neither aware of, nor present at the meeting, which underscores its illegality. The statement also clarified that Prof. Ujah’s actions, including his attempt to forcefully enter the G.R.A, Otukpo Campus with armed personnel, were thwarted by coordinated security measures.  Despite being denied access to the campus, Prof. Ujah, it was reported, accompanied by armed individuals, managed to convene a small gathering at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital Otukpo, where the fraudulent meeting took place. This group later issued the false statement about the appointment Prof. Stephen Abah, alleged to be answering to a criminal case at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Governing Council affirmed that Prof. Innocent A.O. Ujah remains suspended from his position and as such, has no legal authority to summon Senate meetings. The Council further emphasized that Prof. Ediga Bede Agbo is the legally appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor and that his position remains intact. The Council condemned the actions of Prof. Ujah and his associates as a violation of university governance, which has caused unnecessary distress within the university community. They urged all staff, students, and members of the community to disregard any claims made by Prof. Abah and to continue their academic and administrative duties as usual. It would be 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. “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.

Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo Shutdown

Protesting workers have shutdown the nation’s premier Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Benue State. As of press time, neither students nor workers are allowed into the main campus of the university by the protesters who are mainly security personnel. A member of staff who spoke to Nigerian Anchor on condition of anonymity explained that the protest is over non-payment of their salaries. Explaining further, the staff said the university is currently on autopilot as neither the Vice Chancellor, Professor Innocent Ujah nor any of his deputies is on campus to address the protesting workers. Further details to follow shortly…

Appointment of DVC: FUHSO Senate in rowdy session

Uneasy calm settles over Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO) as the frantic effort of the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Innocent Ujah to appoint a Deputy Vice Chancellor pitches him against other management staff of the university. Nigerian Anchor investigations reveal that on October 3, 2024, the VC summoned the Senate to elect Professor Oladapo Shittu as Deputy VC (Administration). The position became vacant on September 30, following the expiration of the tenure of Professor Ediga Agbo in that office. It was however revealed that Professor Shittu’s leave of absence from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) also expired on September, 30 2024 and had bidden farewell to return as a staff of ABU. Other Professors in the University cited relevant sections of the establishment Act of the University to fault the manner in which the VC went about the exercise. According to a Professor who spoke to Nigerian Anchor, but requested not to have the name mentioned, “The Council is supposed to call for the process before the Vice-Chancellor can go ahead with it because until the Council receives the report and confirms the nominee, he cannot parade himself as Deputy Vice-Chancellor.” Our source stated that, “according to the law, the Vice-Chancellor is supposed to present two candidates for the senate to elect one.” The Vice Chancellor was also accused of ambushing the Senate by the procedure employed in tabling the subject at the meeting. It was alleged that for a matter as weighty as appointment of the Deputy Vice (Administration) it was never listed on the agenda of the meeting. It was also alleged that the VC neither informed the Pro-Chancellor nor informed the Governing Council of the University. In fact, it was stated that the VC capitalised on the alleged incompetence of the Registrar to wangle his way through the senate approval. “The incompetence of the Registrar was glaring by the fact that being the custodian of the law and being in attendance, he should have drawn the attention of the Vice-Chancellor to the illegality of his action, but he failed to do so,” it was alleged. It was a fractious senate session where Professors opposed to the CV and those in support had virulent verbal exchanges with the VC being bombarded with several posers like: “For a Vice-Chancellor who is due to vacate his position in a matter of four weeks, did he consider it proper to appoint a new Deputy Vice-Chancellor for an incoming Acting Vice-Chancellor? Did the Vice-Chancellor carry the Governing Council (at least the Pro-Chancellor) along and seek their consent before proceeding with the action?” Over all, it was alleged that the Vice Chancellor called the bluff of the lecturers, insisting that as the CEO of the University, he does not need to consult the Council on every matter.