The controversy over the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) intensified on Tuesday, as external members of the Governing Council boycotted a meeting called by the Council Chairman, Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (retd).
Sources within the university revealed that the meeting, convened late Monday, aimed to finalize the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor by Tuesday afternoon. However, external council members reportedly raised concerns about the lack of an agenda and alleged irregularities in the selection process.
A source familiar with the matter highlighted that the university’s statutes mandate specific criteria for the VC selection committee’s composition. The absence of required members renders any interview conducted invalid.
Boycotting members included:
- Prof. Raphael Akinfeleye (South-West Representative)
- Mrs. Chisom Dorcas Obih (South-East Representative)
- Alhaji Sabo Bappayo Ahmed (North-East Representative)
On Monday, a group of 67 professors submitted a protest letter to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, demanding the dissolution of the Governing Council and a restart of the selection process.
The professors accused Kaita of rejecting 87 applications—27 internal and 60 external—while advancing only three candidates, including the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, whom they claim does not meet the advertised qualifications.
The petition also alleged:
- Internal council members were handpicked during an ASUU strike by the immediate past VC, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah.
- Unqualified individuals, including a businesswoman and a Federal Ministry of Education representative, were included in the council.
- The August 2024 advertisement for the VC role disregarded essential criteria, such as ten years of professorial experience.
The unfolding crisis underscores ongoing challenges in leadership transitions at Nigerian universities, with stakeholders calling for transparency, fairness, and adherence to established guidelines.
