Degrees of Deceit? ASUU Confronts the Return of Alvan Ikoku Federal University Controversial Vice-Chancellor

In Nigeria’s educational landscape, where universities remain among the last bastions of public trust, few controversies have stirred national debate like the reinstatement of Professor Stella Ngozi Lemchi as Vice-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (AIFUE), Owerri. Her return to office, sanctioned by the Federal Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has revived long-standing concerns over the politicization of higher education and ignited a crisis that now poses serious questions about the credibility of Nigeria’s academic system.

What began as a formal petition filed by a group of aggrieved professors and academic staff over irregularities in Lemchi’s academic record and appointment has spiraled into a confrontation between institutional accountability and political expediency. These professors allege that Lemchi’s promotion to the ranks of Reader and Professor—qualifications critical to her eligibility to contest for Vice-Chancellor—were marred by inconsistencies, procedural breaches, and a fundamental absence of scholarly merit. The professors argue that Lemchi did not meet the standard benchmarks required for academic promotion in Nigerian universities, including peer-reviewed publications, substantial teaching and research contributions, and demonstrable service to the academic community.

Central to their grievance is the assertion that her promotion letters bear civil service salary grade levels, a feature they say contradicts her claim of having received pro-bono academic elevations. Even more damning, according to the petitioners, is the claim that since her appointment and promotion at Imo State University (IMSU), Lemchi has made no meaningful academic input—no published research, no significant mentorship, no documented service to the academic community. These allegations, which strike at the very definition of academic professionalism, were submitted to the relevant oversight bodies, prompting calls for a thorough review of her qualifications and appointment process.

Despite the gravity of these claims, the federal government’s response was muted. In early 2025, amid rising tensions and internal concerns, the Ministry of Education set up a committee to review the process that led to Lemchi’s initial appointment as Vice-Chancellor. That committee, inaugurated on June 26, 2025, was led by Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka. The committee’s task was ostensibly to examine the validity of Lemchi’s academic credentials and whether due process had been followed in her selection.

Yet, what was expected to be an impartial, fact-based inquiry quickly drew skepticism. By July 2025, the committee submitted a report declaring that all proper procedures were followed in Lemchi’s appointment and cited overwhelming support from the four staff unions at AIFUE. However, the petitioning professors and wider academic community were quick to challenge the findings. Critics argued that the committee’s investigation was one-sided and deeply flawed. The most glaring issue: none of the complainants were invited to appear or present evidence. Only Lemchi herself was interviewed and cross-examined. The professors who filed the petition, along with several senior academic staff who questioned the legitimacy of her credentials, were completely sidelined from the process.

Equally controversial was the committee’s reliance on the endorsements of staff unions within the university—bodies that, while influential in campus life, are not legally or procedurally empowered to determine the qualifications or appointment of a Vice-Chancellor. According to the University (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1993 and its amendments in 2003 and 2012, the selection and vetting of Vice-Chancellors is strictly the role of the university’s Governing Council and an approved selection committee. The unions’ support, while notable, should have had no bearing on the final decision. The fact that the committee used such endorsements as the backbone of its conclusion raised serious concerns among education stakeholders.

Even more concerning was the timeline surrounding Lemchi’s reinstatement. At the time, Professor Onyeka Aloysius Chijioke was serving as Acting Vice-Chancellor of AIFUE. His appointment, due to end on August 8, 2025, was suddenly terminated on July 22—just over two weeks before his official tenure was to expire. This abrupt dismissal, occurring just as the reinstatement decision was being finalized, appeared orchestrated to clear the path for Lemchi’s return. Meanwhile, the House Committee on University Education in the Federal House of Representatives, which had begun hearings on the matter, had not concluded its investigation. Lemchi’s reinstatement, therefore, not only disregarded unresolved legal questions but also appeared to circumvent parliamentary oversight.

These events might have remained a localized scandal, but on August 8, 2028, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) entered the national stage with a sweeping seven-point public statement. While ASUU did not initiate the petition or lead the investigation, its statement expressed grave concerns about what it described as a dangerous trend of political interference in university governance. ASUU’s leadership, led by President Christopher Piwuna, decried what it called the transformation of Nigeria’s universities into political commodities, where Vice-Chancellors are appointed not on the basis of merit, but on the strength of political alliances and opaque negotiations.

ASUU specifically condemned the attempt to bring back Professor Lemchi as Vice-Chancellor, citing the unresolved allegations concerning her academic promotions and the irregularities that clouded the original appointment process. The union emphasized that such actions undermine public trust in academic institutions, compromise the principle of merit-based advancement, and damage the international reputation of Nigerian universities. The union’s position, while grounded in concern for institutional integrity, also reflected broader anxieties about the erosion of educational standards in the country.

This is not the first time Nigeria has faced questions over the politicization of academia, but the Lemchi case has struck a particular nerve. For many Nigerians, the university represents one of the few remaining symbols of excellence and social mobility. When that system is compromised, the consequences ripple beyond the ivory towers—affecting students, future professionals, international collaborations, and national development at large. The Lemchi controversy has thus become a touchstone for evaluating whether Nigeria’s public institutions can still function with transparency and credibility in a politicized environment.

Compounding the issue is the inconsistency in the conduct of the Ministry of Education itself. In April 2025, Minister Alausa issued a widely publicized policy directive intended to strengthen the integrity of appointments to the positions of Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts. That statement called for strict adherence to due process and was seen as a proactive move to sanitize university leadership across the country. However, ASUU and other critics now argue that the Minister’s endorsement of Lemchi’s reinstatement directly contradicts the very policy he had set in motion.

Furthermore, no clear explanation has been provided as to why Lemchi’s academic record was not re-evaluated in light of the allegations, or why the Ministry chose to act on the recommendations of a committee whose investigation was, by all appearances, incomplete and biased. There has been no official response to the charge that only Lemchi was interviewed, while petitioners and opposing academics were excluded. Nor has there been any transparency in the review of Lemchi’s promotion history at IMSU or at AIFUE, including the documents that supposedly justify her elevation to professorship.

The potential fallout is not limited to public perception. Legal experts suggest that the case could be challenged in court on the grounds that it violates the University Act and sets a dangerous precedent. Legislators within the House Committee on University Education are under pressure to resume and conclude their investigation, not only to determine the facts of the Lemchi case but also to reassert legislative oversight over university governance. Within the broader academic community, there are growing calls for systemic reform: mandatory publication of academic promotion records, independent oversight of selection committees, and the inclusion of neutral observers from external academic institutions during VC selection processes.

For students, the issue goes beyond administrative technicalities. The leadership of a university determines funding priorities, academic direction, and policy enforcement. A Vice-Chancellor without academic legitimacy cannot inspire confidence, attract quality faculty, or defend the institution’s reputation abroad. Already, international observers have taken note. Nigeria’s standing in global university rankings—already undermined by funding deficits and staff shortages—could be further damaged if academic appointments are seen as politically motivated or procedurally illegitimate.

The professors who initially raised the petition have continued to demand a full, transparent review. They insist that university leadership positions must be earned, not bestowed, and that academic promotions must reflect scholarly excellence—not personal networks. Their message is simple: Nigeria cannot build a modern, competitive, knowledge-based society on compromised academic foundations.

In the meantime, Professor Lemchi remains in office. The Ministry of Education has remained silent on ASUU’s statement, and the House of Representatives has not released a timeline for concluding its inquiry. On campuses across the country, the Lemchi case has become a symbol of the high stakes in Nigeria’s fight for institutional integrity. What began as a dispute over one academic’s credentials has evolved into a national test of principle.

ASUU’s closing words in their August 8 statement resonate not just in Owerri or Abuja, but across every campus and corridor of power: justice denied today cannot be denied tomorrow.

Efforts to reach Professor Stella Lemchi for comment regarding the allegations against her and her academic record have so far been unsuccessful. Multiple attempts made via official university communication channels and intermediaries yielded no response at the time of publication. Nevertheless, Time Africa will continue to seek an audience with her to ensure that her perspective is duly represented.