Odoh, UNIZIK And The Troubling Nature of Alausa’s Overreach in Nigerian University System.
The recent controversy surrounding Professor Bernard Odoh and Ministry for Education reveals a deeply troubling pattern of administrative overreach that threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system. The facts of the case paint a clear picture: a distinguished academic whose appointment followed all proper protocols now finds himself the target of what appears to be a coordinated campaign to discredit his legitimate credentials.
The evidence supporting Professor Odoh’s position is substantial. Bank statements confirm salary payments through official channels. External assessors of the highest reputation have sworn affidavits confirming their role in his professorial evaluation. Most tellingly, there exists documented proof of his leave of absence approval – an action that could only have been granted to a legitimate employee.
What makes this case particularly disturbing is the Registrar’s inexplicable claim that the university’s own bursary department acted fraudulently in processing Odoh’s salary while he served as a Professor in the Federal University Gusau.This assertion strains credibility and raises far more questions about the institution’s administrative integrity than it does about Professor Odoh’s credentials.
The timing and nature of these allegations suggest motivations that have little to do with academic oversight and everything to do with internal power dynamics. When a university administrator suggests that their own institution’s payment systems are compromised, they inadvertently reveal either gross incompetence in financial controls or, more likely, a desperate attempt to discredit a legitimate appointment through any means necessary.
Moreover, the university’s handling of documentation raises serious concerns. How can an institution claiming to uphold academic standards explain the convenient disappearance of employment records while simultaneously being unable to deny the existence of copies in Professor Odoh’s possession? This selective record-keeping suggests a troubling pattern of administrative manipulation.
The broader implications for Nigerian academia are severe. If established institutions can retroactively challenge legitimate appointments and manipulate administrative records without consequence, it creates an environment of uncertainty that undermines the entire academic system. How can scholars focus on research and teaching when their very positions might be questioned years after proper appointment procedures?
The recent decision by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, regarding Professor Odoh’s position warrants serious scrutiny. The haste with which this action was taken stands in stark contrast to both established procedures and principles of administrative fairness.
Professor Odoh’s appointment followed rigorous institutional protocols, with a well-documented track record of academic excellence and administrative competence. The rush to reverse a properly executed process, without providing adequate time for review or response, raises concerning questions about administrative due process in our educational institutions.
Of particular concern is the apparent disparity in how different cases are handled. While some matters receive careful, measured consideration over extended periods, this decision was executed with unusual speed. Such inconsistency in administrative approach undermines confidence in our educational governance.
The academic community deserves leadership decisions that prioritize institutional stability and procedural fairness. Moving forward, we urge the Ministry to establish clear, consistent protocols for handling administrative matters, ensuring all cases receive equal, thorough consideration regardless of circumstance.
What any sensible fellow would have expected from the Minister of Education would have been to
initiate a thorough investigation not just of Professor Odoh’s case, but of the administrative practices that allowed this situation to develop. The integrity of our academic institutions depends on transparent, consistent application of established protocols – not post-facto attempts to rewrite institutional history.
