A group of concerned academic staff at the University of Abuja, through their legal representatives, Muiz Banire & Associates, has petitioned the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, over alleged irregularities in the selection process for the university’s next substantive Vice-Chancellor. The petition, which was also addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the leaders of the National Assembly, highlighted concerns regarding a potential violation of the established guidelines for Vice-Chancellor appointments.
The academics emphasized that the guidelines clearly state that candidates must have served as professors for at least 10 years. However, they allege that the university’s governing council is attempting to sidestep these qualifications to install Professor Aisha Maikudi, the current acting Vice-Chancellor, as the substantive VC.
In October, Chronicles Reporters revealed allegations that the university’s Governing Council had relaxed its criteria to favor Maikudi’s appointment. Sources claimed this move was influenced by the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, who purportedly sought to repay a debt of gratitude to Maikudi’s father for supporting his own appointment five years ago.
Following these allegations, Maikudi wrote a letter on November 6, 2024, addressed to the Minister of Education through the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC). In the letter, she raised concerns about governance issues at the institution, accusing the Governing Council, led by its Chairman, Kaita, of actions that could undermine the university’s stability and progress.
In their petition dated November 22, 2024, the academic staff backed the claims against the Governing Council, asserting that its actions had breached institutional regulations for years. They cited an advertisement for the Vice-Chancellor position published on August 26, 2024, which allegedly altered the qualification requirements to favor Maikudi.
The petition explained that the advertisement, signed by the university’s Registrar and Council Secretary, deviated from the Federal Ministry of Education’s guidelines. It replaced the requirement for a 10-year professorship with a vague criterion demanding 10 years of university-level teaching and research experience. The petitioners argued that such a requirement could be easily met by senior lecturers, thereby lowering the standard for appointing a Vice-Chancellor.
The petition further stated:
“The advertorial was deliberately tailored to favor a specific candidate who, though recently elevated to the rank of professor, has not met the 10-year professorship requirement outlined in the guidelines. This constitutes a blatant breach of the stipulated criteria.”
The academics urged the Minister of Education to intervene promptly, enforcing the guidelines to ensure the appointment process adheres to established standards. They concluded by appealing for fairness, transparency, and respect for the integrity of the University of Abuja’s selection process.
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