Image
December 31, 2024
SaharaReporters has reported division between members of the governing council of the school over moves by Kaita to impose Maikudi on them at all costs.
The University of Abuja has officially announced Professor Aisha Maikudi as its new Vice-Chancellor, despite the controversy and protests surrounding the selection process.
This news was confirmed by Habib Yakoob, the acting Director of Public Affairs, on Tuesday. Prof. Maikudi has been serving as the acting Vice-Chancellor since July 2024, following the end of Professor AbdulRasheed Na'Allah's tenure.
Her appointment has been met with resistance from some professors, who raised the alarm that the selection process was manipulated to favour her. They also alleged that the Chairman of the Governing Council was rushing to conclude the selection process during the Christmas and New Year break, without giving adequate time for proper evaluation.
The external members of the Governing Council on Tuesday boycotted a scheduled meeting convened by the Council Chairman, Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (retd) amid the controversy surrounding the appointment process of the new substantive VC for the school.
SaharaReporters has reported division between members of the governing council of the school over moves by Kaita to impose Maikudi on them at all costs.
“The Governing Council of the University of Abuja, under the chairmanship of Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (Rtd), has approved the appointment of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as the 7th Substantive vice-chancellor of the University.
“The appointment was announced during the 77th Extraordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday, 31st December 2024.
“The appointment takes effect from January 1, 2025, and it is for a nonrenewable tenure of five years.
“Maikudi emerged as the best among 10 shortlisted candidates and interviewed by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the University, in line with the extant regulations governing the process,” the statement said.
On Tuesday, SaharaReporters reported that the University of Abuja's Senate members had passed a vote of no confidence on the Governing Council, citing manipulation of the selection process and breach of university laws.
In a letter to the Minister of Education, dated December 27 and signed by 43 Senate members, the senators expressed their loss of faith in the Governing Council's ability to appoint a qualified VC.
The letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday evening, urged the minister to dissolve the Governing Council, declare their proceedings null and void, and reconstitute a new council to oversee a fresh and fair appointment process.
Titled, "Complaint regarding the manipulation of Vice Chancellor appointment processes at the University of Abuja," they warned that failure to address their concerns could have far-reaching consequences for the university and Nigeria's higher education system.
The development came after a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit filed by six senior lecturers against the university's Vice Chancellor, citing that the suit was statute-barred.
The court's decision may have paved the way for the Senate members to take a stand against the Governing Council's actions.
They said, "Thus, we urge you to take immediate corrective action to restore the integrity of the process by dissolving the Governing Council, declare their proceedings null and void, reconstitute a new Governing Council to superintend fresh and free process that will lead to the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the University of Abuja.
"Failure to address our concerns will have far-reaching consequences for the University and the higher education system in Nigeria as other Governing Councils will gladly emulate this ugly and unfortunate path taken by the University of Abuja Governing Council."
Follow the Sahara Reporters channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFClvtH5JM6SSsP7M2Y