Academic and non-academic unions at the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu , in Ebonyi State have backed down from days of protest and disruption, allowing newly appointed Provost Agwu Ekwe to assume office following a dramatic, security-backed takeover of the institution, writes EDWARD NNACHI
Penultimate week, a leadership crisis erupted at the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, following the emergence of two academics—Dr. Jonah Nwawuisi and Prof. Agwu Ekwe—laying claim to the position of Provost.
While Nwawuisi had been serving as Acting Provost since last year, Prof. Ekwe was recently announced as substantive Provost on April 10, 2026, a development that immediately sparked outrage among staff unions and set the stage for a protracted institutional standoff.
The conflicting claims plunged the college into turmoil, disrupting academic activities and leaving staff stranded amid uncertainty over legitimate authority. The crisis deepened as both men reportedly issued directives within the institution, creating what union leaders described as administrative confusion and operational paralysis.
Dr Jonah Nwawuisi and Prof. Agwu Ekwe were at the centre of the storm, with both laying claim to leadership of the institution and issuing instructions to staff.
According to the Chairman of the Joint Action Union (JUA) of the college, Dr ThankGod Nwaneri, the situation created a dilemma for workers who were unsure whose directives to obey.
“We do not know the actual Provost for now because two different persons gave me instructions as Provosts, and I abandoned the instructions because I don’t know which one to follow,” Nwaneri said.
He further faulted the process leading to Ekwe’s appointment, describing it as irregular and contrary to due process.
“Before now, we have had an Acting Provost in the person of Dr Jonah Nwawuisi. And I may say this is an illegal appointment that was done on the 10th of April, 2026, when they said they appointed one Prof Agwu Ekwe,” he said.
Nwaneri explained that the union’s position was driven by concerns over transparency, insisting that qualified candidates who applied for the position since it was advertised in June 2025 had not been shortlisted or invited for interviews.
“As a matter of fact, we do not know the actual Provost for now because two different persons gave me instructions as Provosts, and I abandoned the instructions because I don’t know which one to follow,” he reiterated.
He stressed that the union was not opposed to any individual but was demanding adherence to due process, warning that bypassing established procedures could undermine fairness and discourage career progression within colleges of agriculture.
Amid the confusion, the Joint Union Action of the College and the Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA) staged a protest, locking the main gate of the institution as well as the Provost’s office. The action brought academic and administrative activities to a halt and heightened tension across the campus.
Eyewitnesses described a tense atmosphere as both academic and non-academic unions resisted what they called conflicting authority directives issued by Dr Nwawuisi and Prof. Ekwe.
The crisis left staff divided, with Dr Nwaneri saying he was receiving contradictory instructions from both sides, forcing him to disregard directives altogether.
The unions also linked the crisis to earlier grievances, including what they described as arbitrary transfers of key officials such as the Registrar and Procurement Officer by the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, raising broader concerns about administrative fairness and institutional governance.
However, Dr Nwawuisi dismissed the protest as the handiwork of “insignificant elements” bent on causing chaos in the institution, insisting that normalcy had been restored with the intervention of security agencies.
“This was the handiwork of some insignificant elements that want to cause chaos in the school, but I am happy the security agents took control of it,” he said.
He maintained that there was no leadership confusion, insisting that Prof. Ekwe was the substantive Provost who had taken over from him.
“You can see now that the insinuations are false, we don’t have two Provosts but one in person of Prof. Ekwe, and he took over from me on Tuesday,” he said.
Nwawuisi added that he had served as Acting Provost since last year, but confirmed that Prof. Ekwe was appointed substantive Provost on April 10 and had since assumed office.
He further advised the new Provost to hit the ground running, expressing confidence that his experience would help reposition the institution.
Amid the escalating tensions, the National President of ASUCA, Dr Kadurumba Chukwuemeka, condemned the appointment of a university professor as Provost of a College of Agriculture, describing it as a violation of established norms and administrative guidelines.
He demanded the immediate reversal of the appointment and called for a transparent selection process across all affected institutions. The union also issued a 14-day ultimatum for the resolution of the matter, warning that failure to comply could trigger a nationwide strike.
At the peak of the crisis, unions reportedly prevented Dr Nwawuisi from formally handing over to the new Provost, shutting down the institution and locking both the main gate and administrative offices in protest over Ekwe’s appointment.
However, a day after the protest, Prof. Ekwe arrived at the college amid heavy security deployment. Armed personnel, including soldiers, police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), escorted him into the institution after the main gate, earlier locked by aggrieved unions, was forcibly opened.
The development marked a dramatic escalation, as the new Provost assumed control of the institution under tight security, effectively ending days of leadership paralysis.
Following the intervention of security agencies, calm gradually returned as union leaders accepted appeals for restraint and allowed the process to proceed.
Nwawuisi reportedly stepped down in compliance with what sources described as a federal government directive, paving the way for Prof. Ekwe’s formal takeover.
Speaking on the development, ASUCA National President, Dr Kadurumba, said the transition was in line with government instructions.
“The Acting Provost, Dr Nwawuisi Jonah, has handed over to the new Provost, and he can’t say no to it because it is a federal government directive,” he said.
He added that the new Provost entered the campus with security backing and was eventually allowed access after the gate was forced open.
“So, the Joint Union Action allowed the security agencies to break the gate, and the new Provost entered the college and addressed those he saw in the college,” he said.
After gaining access, Prof. Ekwe addressed staff and students, formally asserting administrative control over the institution under heavy security presence.
The development brought an end—at least temporarily—to days of tension and uncertainty that had paralysed academic and administrative activities in the college.
In his address, the new Provost outlined his vision for the institution, saying his administration would prioritise efficiency, financial discipline and sustainable development.
He pledged to take proactive steps to centralise revenue generation, block leakages, and eliminate waste within the system.
“I hope to develop, in collaboration with the private sector, an investment plan that will enable the college to establish an endowment fund within the first two years of my administration,” he said.
Prof. Ekwe also disclosed plans to adopt prudent financial guidelines, including setting aside a fixed percentage of internally generated revenue for sustainability, while emphasising increased funding through institutional research grants.
The dramatic chain of events ultimately restored administrative control but left lingering questions over due process, institutional autonomy and governance practices within the college system.
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