Some concerned academic members of the University of Abuja through their counsel, Muiz Banire & Associates, have submitted a petition to Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, regarding apparent irregularities in the ongoing selection process for the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university.
The petition, which was copied to President Bola Tinubu, the Senate and the House of Representatives leaders, noted that the minister must enforce the provision of the Guidelines for VC appointment inckusing that such must be a Professor of at least 10 years experience.
In October, SaharaReporters reported how the Governing Council of the university was reportedly attempting to impose Professor Aisha Maikudi, the acting Vice Chancellor, as its substantive Vice-Chancellor.
According to sources, the university’s governing council had bent the rules by relaxing qualification standards in an attempt to facilitate Maikudi’s appointment as the substantive VC.
The move raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the selection process.
According to multiple university sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, the plot to install Maikudi as Vice Chancellor was orchestrated by the immediate past VC, Prof Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah.
Sources had claimed Na’Allah sought to repay a debt of gratitude to Maikudi’s father, who helped him secure the VC position five years earlier despite significant opposition.
Few days after SaharaReporters’ report. Maikudi, in a letter sent to the Minister of Education through the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), dated November 6, 2024, had raised concerns over the governance of the school.
The acting vice-chancellor had alleged that a series of actions taken under the leadership of the Chairman of Council, Kaita, “have the potential of seriously impinging the good governance, stability and progress of the University of Abuja”.
In their petition dated 22nd November 2024 and obtained by SaharaReporters, the concerned academic members corroborated SaharaReporters’ findings about the plots to favour the acting vice-chancellor.
The petition said the governing council deliberately breached rules and regulations governing the affairs of the institution for years.
The petition reads: “Our clients drew our attention to an advertorial of Monday, August 26, 2024 signed by Mall. Yahya I. Mohammed, the Registrar and Secretary of Council of the University of Abuja at pages 34 and 35 of Daily Trust Newspaper of Monday, August 26, 2024 titled “Re: Vacancy Announcement for the Post of Vice-Chancellor Internal and External Advertisement”. For ease of reference, the said advertorial is herewith attached and marked as Annexure 1.
“The said advertorial of Monday, August 26, 2024 was made pursuant to the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1993 (as amended) in order to announce to the general public that the post of Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja is vacant, and thereby calling on suitably qualified candidates with experience in University administration to apply. The advertorial also set out the requirements for interested candidates that would be applying for the job of the Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja.
“Sir, the gravamen of this petition to your good offices is to bring to your attention, the clear omission and blatant breach of the qualification basis set under the Assessment Criteria and Scoring Guidelines for the Appointment of Vice Chancellors as captured in the “Federal Ministry of Education Guidelines for the Appointment of Vice- Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts” (the Guidelines), wherein it was provided that an applicant/candidate for the post of a Vice-Chancellor must be a Professor of at least 10 years experience, at the time of making such application. For ease of reference, a copy of the Guidelines is herewith attached as Annexure 2.
“It will interest you to note, Sir, that the Guidelines is a working document made pursuant to Sections 3-6 of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993, Amendment Act 2003 and 2012 (the Act) to draw up a 7-step procedure and guide for the Governing Council of Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors/Rectors/Provosts.
“Sir, it is no longer news that the advertorial made by the Registrar and Secretary of Council was specifically made to favour a certain candidate whom we are aware was recently elevated as a Professor and is yet to be a professor for up to 5 years, talk less of being a Professor of at least 10 years standing as specified by the Guidelines.
“Sir, in order to water down the provision of the Guidelines that any candidate applying for the post of Vice-Chancellor of a University (University of Abuja inclusive), must be a Professor of at least 10 years experience, the advertorial swapped this requirement for a strange requirement that such “candidate shall also demonstrate ability for active teaching and research at the University level for at least ten (10) years”. Whereas, it is common knowledge that many Senior lecturers in an average University would have had at least ten (10) years active teaching and research at the University level, how much more, a person who will ascend the exalted position of a Vice- Chancellor of a University who should be a Professor of Professors.
“Sir, we plead that you use your good offices to enforce the provision of the Guidelines particularly stating that candidate applying for the post Sof Vice-Chancellor of a University (University of Abuja inclusive), must be a Professor of at least 10 years experience.
“Whilst counting on your prompt intervention in ensuring that the guideline for the appointment of Vice-Chancellor is followed by University of Abuja, we remain😊.”