SaharaReporters learnt that the candidates also expressed reservations about the short notice given for the interview, receiving invitations less than 24 hours before its commencement.
At least two candidates for the Vice Chancellor position at the University of Abuja have opted out of the interview process, expressing concerns about the selection process's legitimacy.
Specifically, they pointed to irregularities, inadequate adherence to due process, and a lack of transparency as the reasons for their decision to decline the invitation.
SaharaReporters learnt that the candidates also expressed reservations about the short notice given for the interview, receiving invitations less than 24 hours before its commencement. They claimed that their invitations were merely a formality to legitimise a predetermined outcome, rather than a genuine opportunity to compete for the position.
SaharaReporters reported on Sunday that the University of Abuja's Governing Council, chaired by Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita, had scheduled interviews for Monday and Tuesday, December 30 and 31, to select the university's substantive vice-chancellor.
The development came amidst controversy surrounding the potential appointment of Prof. Aisha Maikudi, the current acting vice-chancellor, as the substantive VC.
Some have raised concerns about her qualifications, especially as she has only about three years of professorial experience, but it's worth noting that Maikudi received her LLB from the University of Reading, UK, and her Ph.D. from the University of Abuja, and is even recognised as the youngest Professor of Law in Nigeria.
Despite this, the alleged attempt to impose her as the substantive VC has sparked a looming crisis.
SaharaReporters had reported how attempts to impose Maikudi as the substantive VC without due process forced two Senate members in the joint selection board to walk out of a board meeting.
SaharaReporters learnt that the dons are Prof. Kasim Waziri and Prof. Rosemary Udeozo.
The Senate members walked out during a meeting last Monday following the imposition of certain criteria allegedly put in place to favour the emergence of the acting VC Maikudi as the new VC.
They also complained about how without their knowledge and participation, the pro-chancellor and chairman of the joint selection board, shortlisted 40 names for the interview out of 87 applications.
SaharaReporters reported on Friday that Maikudi had forwarded another name to the Governing Council of the University to replace Prof. Waziri at the joint selection board to ensure the continuation of the VC selection process.
Prof. Waziri and Prof. Udeozo were elected by the Senate of the University on October 9 to the joint selection board entrusted with the job of selecting a new VC for the school.
Meanwhile, one of the applicants invited for the interview, Prof. Sani Abubakar Mashi, in a letter to the school registrar, said he can't be a party to such an exercise, stating that the guidelines outlined in the advertisement for the position have not been followed.
In the letter dated December 29, titled: "Re: Invitation For Interview", Prof. Mashi expressed lack of confidence in the process, especially as regarding transparency, fairness, and adherence to laws and rules leading up to the arrangement of the interview.
The letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday partly read: "I refer to your phone call at precisely 1:16 PM today, Sunday, December 29, 2024, informing me of my invitation to attend an interview for the position of Vice Chancellor of the University, scheduled for Monday, December 30, and Tuesday, December 31. You also mentioned that the invitation had been sent to my WhatsApp number, which I received at exactly 1:17 PM.
"I regret to inform you of my decision to stay away from the interview. This decision stems from my lack of confidence in the transparency, fairness, and adherence to laws, rules, and processes leading up to the arrangement of this interview. Furthermore, the guidelines outlined in the advertisement for the position have not been followed.
"More specifically, the two internal members (elected by the Senate) of the Selection Board, who should have been part of the five-member team (comprising two internal, two external members, and the Council Chairman) tasked with reviewing applications and issuing interview invitations, walked out of the Board on December 23, 2024. Their departure was prompted by non-compliance with applicable laws, rules, and procedures, and they have not returned to the Board since.
"The forceful attempts being made to replace the two rather than addressing the flaws they pointed out have further made me to lose confidence in the firmness of the process. This raises serious questions about the legitimacy and validity of the process used to identify shortlisted candidates and issue my invitation for an interview.”
"In light of the above, I can’t be a party to such an exercise," he added.
Another candidate responding to the invitation for interview from the acting Registrar wrote: "This is to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your invitation for interview which was sent via SMS at about 12 noon today. I however regret to inform you that this notice appears too short. Less than 24 hours and issued on a Sunday for an interview scheduled for New Year's Eve.
"Besides, the series of controversies and lack of due process currently trending in the media make one to be very wary of honouring this invitation."