Crisis at Wigwe University as Former Staff Allege Mass Dismissals and Work Environment Strain

Wigwe University in Rivers State is facing intense scrutiny following widespread allegations of arbitrary terminations, administrative high-handedness, and workplace intimidation raised by dozens of former academic and non-academic staff.

The institution, established by the late banking executive Herbert Wigwe, was designed to be a world-class center of academic excellence. However, severe internal conflicts have emerged in the months following Wigwe’s death in early 2024.

Records indicate that around 30 staff members have either been dismissed or forced to resign in recent months. Affected personnel include senior academics and administrative staff, including former university librarian Dr. Nonyelum Okechukwu, college secretaries, and several lecturers.

Former employees allege that the university’s administration, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi, has routinely bypassed standard administrative procedures. Affected personnel claim they were served termination letters without receiving prior queries or being given an opportunity to appear before disciplinary panels. Others reported unfulfilled contractual terms, including promised travel allowances, as well as a workplace culture driven by fear where minor issues led to immediate dismissal.

The developing situation has drawn strong reactions from civil society organizations and legal experts, who stress that private universities remain bound by Nigerian labor laws. Groups including the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights have called for an independent investigation, emphasizing that private institutions must operate within federal employment frameworks and respect staff service contracts.

In response, Vice-Chancellor Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi firmly rejected the allegations, denying that any staff member was arbitrarily dismissed at his personal discretion.

Professor Al-Akaidi maintained that the institution operates under established disciplinary systems overseen by a high-level committee and the Governing Council. He attributed the staff turnover to rigorous performance standards and voluntary resignations rather than summary dismissals, stating that the university remains strictly focused on maintaining high standards to fulfill the vision of its late founder.