Umudike, Abia State – The Governing Council of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) has withheld approval for the institution’s 2025 convocation ceremony, citing the absence of a budgetary provision for the estimated ₦211 million cost.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Comrade Fidelis Edeh, said the council could not approve expenditure for a one-day event that was not captured in the university’s approved 2025 budget, describing any such move as a violation of due process.
“There is no legitimate government expenditure that is not budgeted for. The issue is straightforward — there was no subhead for the convocation in the 2025 budget,” Edeh said during a press briefing in Umudike.
Speaking through his Special Adviser, Comrade Lucky Akabuike, Edeh dismissed allegations of blackmail and misinformation surrounding the suspended convocation, insisting that the council’s decisions were collective and guided strictly by financial regulations.
“No responsible public institution can lawfully expend ₦211 million on a one-day event without budgetary backing. That would amount to gross financial misconduct,” he stated, adding that he would not compromise his record by endorsing procedural breaches.
Promotion Dispute Deepens
Edeh also addressed claims of personal vendetta in the delayed promotion of Dr. Philip Nto, a former Abia State Commissioner for Finance, to the rank of professor.
He denied allegations that he personally blocked the promotion, explaining that the matter was stepped down after concerns were raised during a council meeting over whether due process was followed in the appraisal process.
“It is a case of delayed promotion, not denied promotion,” he said, noting that the council resolved to investigate the objections before taking further action.
The Pro-Chancellor faulted Dr. Nto for escalating the issue to the media and petitioning President Bola Tinubu without first exhausting internal mechanisms within the university and its supervisory ministries.
“It is anomalous for a staff member to bypass established channels and publicly discuss council matters,” Edeh said.
Vice-Chancellor Criticised
Edeh further criticised the Vice-Chancellor for allegedly advocating for Nto’s promotion despite being present at the council meeting where the recommendation was stepped down.
He questioned why Nto’s name did not appear in earlier lists of recommended professorial promotions presented between July 2024 and August 2025, during which 68 and 107 staff members were approved in separate batches.
“One wonders about the haste surrounding this promotion at this time,” he said.
Edeh maintained that his stance was rooted in due process, not persecution, stressing that any official duty performed while on leave of absence would be considered invalid.
Nto Responds
In a swift reaction, Dr. Nto dismissed the Pro-Chancellor’s claims as misleading and insisted that seeking presidential intervention was within his rights, noting that the President serves as Visitor to the university.
“If I do not go to the press, where should I go? The President remains my final arbiter,” he said.
Nto argued that the university’s promotion committee and the Vice-Chancellor had recommended his elevation, questioning who then was withholding approval.
He also rejected claims that his teaching activities while on leave were unlawful, stating that his assignments were officially approved by the university and included participation in accreditation exercises.
The dispute has sparked debate within the university community, with both parties maintaining firm positions. While the Governing Council insists on strict adherence to budgetary and procedural rules, Dr. Nto has appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and direct the release of his promotion with effect from 2021.
The unfolding controversy continues to cast a spotlight on governance and accountability issues within the institution named after Nigeria’s former Premier, Michael Okpara.
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