FG Shakes Up FUHSO Management, Sacks VC, Registrar

 In a significant shake-up at the Federal University of Health Sciences (FUHSO) in Otukpo, Benue State, the Federal Ministry of Education has announced the removal of key officials following protracted power tussle. In a letter dated November 18, 2024, President Tinubu approved the immediate removal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council.  Additionally, Prof. Ediga B. Agbo and Mallam Aminu Abba have been removed from their positions as Acting Vice Chancellor and Registrar, respectively. As part of the restructuring, the Governing Council is now directed to elect one of its external members to serve as the Acting Chairman of the Council until a permanent appointment is made.  Furthermore, the University Senate has been asked to nominate the most senior Deputy Vice Chancellor for approval as the Acting Vice Chancellor, with immediate effect.  Similarly, the Council is tasked with appointing the most senior Deputy Registrar as the Acting Registrar. The changes come as part of an ongoing effort to ensure the smooth operation and governance of the institution.  The Ministry has expressed confidence that these adjustments will help stabilize the university and maintain its focus on academic excellence. Dr. Tunji Alausa, Honourable Minister of Education, has conveyed these directives to the Governing Council and reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the growth and success of the institution. The university community and stakeholders await further developments as these new appointments take effect.

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.

Prof. Ediga Agbo appointed FUHSO acting V/Chancellor

Professor Ediga Agbo has been appointed as the acting Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State. His appointment was sequel to the suspension of Professor Innocent Ujah, the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Nigeria’s maiden university of health sciences. A source who confided in Nigerian Anchor disclosed that the Governing Council of the University, at a meeting in Otukpo, suspended Professor Ujah, whose tenure as VC was due to elapse in early November 2024, with immediate effect. Announcing his replacement with an acting VC, it was disclosed that Professor Ujah’s suspension was connected to sundry reasons bothering on insubordination and dereliction of duty. Our source hinted that Professor Ujah’s suspension was due, mainly, to the allegation of “Failing to respond to several memos from Pro-Chancellor requesting for audited accounts of the University, inventory of mobile and immobile assets.” Another reason adduced for the suspension was his “Appointing and publicly announcing a Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) without the consent of the Governing Council.” He was also accused of “Travelling abroad without the permission of the Council and not returning to the university on a date contained in a letter he directed a Deputy Registrar of the University to transmit to the Council after he had travelled.” Professor Ujah was also accused of “Failing to notify the Governing Council of his retirement from the university system on 6th of November, 2024 after much persuasion from the Pro-Chancellor to do so.” Professor Agbo, the acting Vice Chancellor was confirmed as professor of Microbiology in 2003 at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.

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.