…Affected Members’ Tenure Expired September 7, 2026, Extension Not Supported by Law
The tenure dispute involving seven internal Governing Council members at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) is being widely mischaracterised and misrepresented as an unlawful sacking by the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Governing Council, Comrade Fidelis Edeh, a legal analysis has shown.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the affected members — Prof. C.O. Offor, Prof. I. Okoro, Prof. A. Nlewadim, Prof. I. Obasi, Prof. Ononuju, Mrs. I.O.K. Onuma, and Prof. Igbokwe — were inaugurated on September 8, 2022, for a four-year term, which expired on September 7, 2026.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the members argue that the change in national government in 2023 and the dissolution of councils made them lose sitting opportunities within the period, and that their tenure should now run to October 2027, citing Section 1.6 of the 2023 Federal Government guidelines. However, the analysis noted that tenure cannot be elongated or extended by implication or administrative default. For an extension to occur, it must be explicitly authorised by an amendment to the enabling act passed by the legislature, or via a specific statutory provision activated by the executive.
Edeh had referred the matter to Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa for resolution through Senate, Congregation, and Convocation, and directed that the university’s newly elected Alumni President replace the sitting ex-Alumni President in Council immediately.
The analysis outlined the legal position: dissolution extinguishes the board; appointed members’ terms are tied to their specific letters of appointment; elected/non-appointed/ex-officio members sit on the board by virtue of holding another permanent office and do not get “bonus time”; and reconstitution starts a new cycle. It concluded that the guideline does not support an automatic extension, and the tenure of the affected members has been exhausted. All eyes are now on the Vice-Chancellor to begin the re-fill process.
Source verification: Original reporting based on legal analysis of the MOUAU statute, the 2023 Federal Government guidelines, and institutional records.
Editorial Policy: CDA News Nigeria is committed to accurate and balanced reporting on education and governance matters.
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