Professors Petition Education Minister Over Alleged Irregularities in UniAbuja’s Vice-Chancellor Appointment
In a bold move, 43 professors from the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) have submitted a formal petition to the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, accusing the university’s Governing Council of manipulating the ongoing process to appoint a substantive Vice-Chancellor. The professors allege that the council is working to ensure the appointment of the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aisha Maikudi, despite her lack of the necessary qualifications for the role.
The petition raises concerns about the composition of the Governing Council, claiming that it was improperly formed during a period of strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). According to the professors, many of the council’s members were selected based on loyalty rather than merit, a move that they argue compromised the fairness and integrity of the selection process.
In addition, the petitioners expressed dismay over the inclusion of a representative from the Federal Ministry of Education and a businesswoman on the council. They assert that these individuals lack the relevant academic expertise and are ill-equipped to contribute to the governance of higher education institutions like UniAbuja.
A particularly contentious point in the petition is the alleged disregard for essential criteria in the advertisement for the Vice-Chancellor position, which was published in August 2024. The petitioners claim that the advertisement failed to specify the required minimum of ten years of professorial experience, a key requirement for the role. They argue that the Acting Vice-Chancellor, who has only two years of professorial experience, does not meet this basic qualification and lacks both scholarly visibility and the academic credentials necessary to lead the institution.
The professors are now calling for the immediate dissolution of the current Governing Council. They demand that the Minister nullify all decisions made by the council, warning that failure to take action could set a dangerous precedent for other universities in the country.
The petition concludes with a strong appeal: “We have lost confidence in the current Governing Council’s ability to fairly select the most qualified candidate for the position of Vice Chancellor. We urge you to intervene by dissolving the Council, declaring its proceedings null and void, and establishing a new body to oversee the appointment process in a transparent and merit-based manner.”
The petitioners warn that any failure to address their concerns will have serious consequences for the integrity of UniAbuja and could potentially affect the wider Nigerian higher education system.
