The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at MOUAU has petitioned President Bola Tinubu over an inaugural lecture.
The lecture, scheduled for December 11, 2024, involves Professor Raphael Echebiri, whose professorship is at the center of controversy.
ASUU claims Echebiri’s promotion was irregular and had been revoked before being reinstated by the current administration. The union cited a letter sent to the Vice Chancellor on August 26, 2024, regarding the promotion concerns.
According to the ASUU statement, Echebiri’s promotion lacked due process, as highlighted in the MOUAU Visitation Panel report. ASUU demanded the cancellation of the inaugural lecture to prevent further undermining the university’s integrity and image.
The union warned the Vice Chancellor not to promote actions that might return the institution to an era of impunity. In response, MOUAU’s Public Relations head, Ubadire Agua, dismissed ASUU’s claims and defended the Vice Chancellor’s leadership.
Agua stated the university’s Senate, which includes ASUU members, had approved Echebiri as the inaugural lecturer without dispute. He affirmed the lecture would proceed as planned, emphasizing the peaceful and progressive environment under the Vice Chancellor’s leadership.
This ongoing disagreement has raised concerns over transparency and governance within the institution, affecting its academic reputation.
