Fresh concerns have emerged over the ongoing selection process for the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, as academic staff accuse the institution’s governing council of breaching federal guidelines to favor a particular candidate.
In a petition dated November 22, 2024, submitted to the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, and copied to President Bola Tinubu as well as the National Assembly, the concerned staff allege that the process is skewed in favor of Professor Aisha Maikudi, the acting Vice-Chancellor.
The petition, filed by Muiz Banire & Associates, claims that the council altered key eligibility criteria for the position, particularly the requirement that candidates must have at least 10 years of professorial experience.
The petitioners argue that the advertisement for the position, published in *Daily Trust* on August 26, 2024, replaced the 10-year professorial experience requirement with a broader condition that candidates must have “10 years of teaching and research experience at the university level.”
“This deliberate adjustment compromises the integrity of the process and creates an opportunity for less-qualified candidates to apply,” the petition stated.
The petition further alleges that the move to install Maikudi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor was orchestrated by the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah. According to the petitioners, Na’Allah is using his influence to repay a personal favor to Maikudi’s family.
Earlier, Professor Maikudi herself has raised concerns about the governance of the university in a letter dated November 6, 2024, addressed to the Minister of Education through the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Maikudi accused the governing council, led by Chairman Kaita, of actions that threaten the institution’s stability and progress.
The petitioners have urged the Minister of Education to enforce compliance with the Federal Ministry of Education’s guidelines, which require candidates for Vice-Chancellor positions to possess a minimum of 10 years of professorial experience.
“It is imperative that the selection process adheres to established standards to ensure fairness and merit,” the petition read.
The controversy has raised broader concerns about governance in Nigeria’s higher education system. Stakeholders warn that breaching rules in leadership appointments undermines institutional credibility and sets a dangerous precedent for other universities.
The Federal Ministry of Education is yet to respond to the allegations, but the outcome of this selection process is expected to have significant implications for the governance of higher institutions across the country.
