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A frontline civil society organisation (CSO) and renowned socio-political pressure group, the Save Enugu Group (SEG) has issued a scathing statement condemning the urging new Governing Council of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) to reverse the appointment of Professor Romanus Ezeokonkwo as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the University.

The SEG in a statement signed by it’s Secretary General, Comrade James Ezema, insisted that the discredited appointment, “made in the absence of a properly constituted governing council, is both illegal and unjust.”

According to the statement, “following the expiration of the former Vice-Chancellor’s tenure, the University Senate should have facilitated a smooth transition by appointing the most senior official within the university management.

“Instead, a questionable process led to the election of an acting Vice-Chancellor, bypassing established federal civil service rules and directives from the Federal Ministry of Education through the National Universities Commission (NUC)”, the group said.

The SEG therefore demanded an immediate reversal of Professor Ezeokonkwo’s appointment by the incoming Governing Council of the University. “The absence of a governing council during this critical decision-making process raises serious concerns about transparency and due process.”

The group added that “While SEG respects the autonomy of university governing bodies, it questions the rationale behind the so-called election of an Acting Vice-Chancellor without proper oversight.

“The Pro-Chancellor nominee for the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), General Ike Nwachukwu (retd.) and other newly nominated Governing Council members, including Pro. Lere Oke, Senator Sani Ahmed Stores, Mrs. Priscillia Nkeiruka Okonkwo, and Barr. Semiu Kukoyi, must prioritize addressing these issues.

“These President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nominees hold a crucial responsibility in ensuring fairness and adherence to established norms at the UNN to reposition the University”, the group stated.

SEG noted that it remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the integrity of UNN, saying that “the university’s reputation and academic excellence depend on transparent leadership and adherence to due process.

“The SEG reiterates that it is prepared to take all necessary legal and civic actions to ensure that this matter is addressed and that justice prevails”, the statement concluded.

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