43 dons kick, seek dissolution of UNIABUJA Governing Council

Forty-three professors at the University of Abuja have asked President Bola Tinubu to dissolve the Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita-led governing council of the university, citing alleged manipulation of the selection process for the university’s vice chancellor. 

This comes as the professors sent a strong delegation to meet with the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, yesterday, to register their grievances. In a petition sighted by The Guardian, dated January 2, 2025 and sent to the visitor of the institution, President Tinubu, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, they urged Tinubu to nullify all decisions taken by the council, warning that failure to act would set a dangerous precedent for other universities.

Titled, ‘Complaint regarding the manipulation of Vice-Chancellor appointment processes at the University of Abuja’, they passed a vote of no confidence on the council and called for a reconstitution of a new one.

The dons accused the governing council of manipulating the selection process in favour of Prof Aisha Sani Maikudi.  Recall that Maikudi was, on December 31, declared the substantive V.C. of the institution by the Kaita-led council. 

But in the petition, the professors wrote: “We feel compelled to bring to your attention our concerns regarding the gross irregularities, blatant disregard for due process, violations of relevant laws and regulations, favoritism, abuse of privileges, undue interference and lack of fairness that marred the selection process for the vice chancellorship of the University of Abuja. These lapses culminated in the unfortunate declaration of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as the substantive vice chancellor. 

“Such events not only undermine the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, but also risks setting a dangerous precedent for other governing councils in appointing vice chancellors across Nigerian universities.”

The petition also claimed that key criteria for the vice chancellor position, such as a minimum of 10 years of professorial experience, were disregarded in the advertisement for the post of vice chancellor published in newspapers in August 2024.

They argued that the vice chancellor had only two years of experience as a professor, lacked scholarly visibility and had weak academic credentials. They also condemned the inclusion of a representative from the Federal Ministry of Education and a businesswoman in the Council, insisting that they lacked the expertise required to uphold quality assurance in higher education governance.

“We have lost total faith and confidence in the governing council as they have exhibited lack of integrity and competence, and inability to be fair and just in producing the best and most qualified vice chancellor for the university. 

“We thus urge you to take immediate corrective action to restore the integrity of the process by getting the governing council dissolved and re-constituted, so that a fresh and free process of vice chancellorship appointed will be conducted. This will additionally go along way in, once again, demonstrating to Nigerians the sincerity of Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”