Professors, dean differ on UNIABUJA VC selection process
25 December 2024 |
5:00 am
The controversy rocking the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) over the choice of a substantive Vice-Chancellor (VC) assumed a new dimension yesterday, as professors protested the selection process on the school premises.
The controversy rocking the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) over the choice of a substantive Vice-Chancellor (VC) assumed a new dimension yesterday, as professors protested the selection process on the school premises.
But the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof Abubakar Umarkari, assured that the process would be transparent. This came as more than 80 scholars from within and outside Nigeria applied to become the next substantive VC of the university.
During the protest, the crew of Channels Television was brutally manhandled by security operatives and the broadcast station’s vehicle was significantly damaged.
Not done, the security operatives detained the crew for over an hour. Allegations are swirling that the AVM Saddiq Kaita (rtd)-led Governing Council, in cahoots with certain staff members, is trying to instal the Acting VC, Prof Aisha Maikudi, as the substantive VC, despite claims that she did not meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the job advertisement.
The purported move raised dust, sparking concerns about the fairness and transparency of the selection process. Investigations showed that an emergency senate meeting was convened yesterday at about 9.00 a.m., as the governing council sought to oust senate members, who reportedly refused to back the appointment of Maikudi, tensing up the university community.
University officials familiar with the matter told The Guardian that there was a heated session recently at the governing council meeting, sparked by allegations that Kaita was attempting to impose Maikudi as the substantive VC, even as she was reportedly unqualified to apply in the first instance. The rapid rise of the 41-year-old acting VC to prominence in the academic world has raised eyebrows in some quarters.
Allegations suggest that she was fast-tracked into her role as a professor of International Law under questionable circumstances, becoming a professor in 2022 and promptly appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC).
Her swift ascension is reportedly linked to her father’s influence, a notable figure from Katsina State, Sani Maikudi, with the chairman of the governing council coming from the same state.
This development sparked questions about the selection process and potential favouritism and nepotism. Also fingered in the succession crisis is the immediate past VC, Prof Abdulrasheeed Na’Allah, who allegedly paved the way for Maikudi to become the acting VC as a form of gratitude. This favour was reportedly in return for the support of Aisha’s father, who was the former council chairman. Na’Allah was said to have benefited from Maikudi’s rule-bending five years prior, which enabled his ascension to the VC position.
Speaking with reporters yesterday, Prof Umarkari said 70 per cent of VCs assumed office with less than 10 years of professorial experience. He cited the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and the Federal University of Technology, Minna, with zero professorial experience to buttress his argument.
The don, however, assured that the selection process would be transparent. He said, “The appointment of the VCs of every Nigerian university is determined by two documents: the Act of the specific university and the University’s Miscellaneous Act.
“The Acts of specific universities vary a little. But I can tell you, in none of them is stated that you have to be a professor for 10 years before you become VC. If you do an analysis of all the VCs of federal and state universities, I can tell you that 70 per cent of them, you can mark that, became VCs at less than 10 years as professors.”
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