The Governing Council of the University of Abuja under the chairmanship of Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (Rtd) has approved the appointment of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as the 7th substantive Vice Chancellor of the university.
This is coming less than 24 hours after some professors, who are members of the Senate of the university, submitted a petition to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa kicking against the alleged nocturnal moves to pave the way for Professor Aisha Maikudi.
Her appointment yesterday was announced during the 77th Extraordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday. The appointment takes effect from 1st January 2025,and it is for a non-renewable tenure of five years, said a statement by Acting Director, Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob.
He said Maikudi emerged as the best among 10 shortlisted candidates and interviewed by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the university in line with the extant regulations governing the process. Reacting to the development, a professor at the university, who does not want to be mentioned, said the senate members could not meet now because most of them were on holiday.
“Look at the time the pronouncement was made. Everybody is at home, making preparations for the New Year. And this is when they chose to do it. And yesterday, there was a petition that was submitted to the minister.
“So, if the minister actually chooses to ignore that, it would be a risk that the government would be taking. But, it is okay. At least, the Council has done its own, so let the government do its own part,” he said.
Another professor, who believed due process was not followed, said those who spearheaded the selection process were not fair to the university.
“I am one of those who endorsed the petition against her; and the reason is simple. There are more qualified professors than her but all the relevant laws were twisted to favour her,” he alleged.
“We have written a petition to the minister of education and I strongly believe that is how far we can go,” he said.
Asked if they would accord her the desired respect now that she has been chosen as the vice chancellor, the professor who also vied for the office, said he would simply adjust himself and continue with his responsibility as a teacher in the university.
“My only fear is that she will face enormous challenges in running the university. She needs the support of the senate members to get it right; but I am afraid she will face a herculean task.
“And remember, the Act establishing the university gives a lot of powers to the senate. And when members feel that she is not doing the right thing, they can remove her,” he said.
Prior to her appointment, Aisha Maikudi had served as the acting VC for the period of six months,which will elapse by 3rd January.
However, the process to select a new vice chancellor for the university was enmeshed in crisis following allegations that the council chairman has plans to favour her.
The university’s Senate members had on Monday passed a vote of no confidence in the Governing Council, alleging manipulation of the process.
In a letter to the minister dated December 27 titled “Complaint regarding the manipulation of vice chancellor appointment processes at the University of Abuja”, it was reported that a group of 67 professors had stormed the ministry where they urged they minister to dissolve the council and start afresh in line with due process as prescribed by the law, the conventions and traditions governing public universities.
The professors alleged that the chairman rejected over 27 internal applications, 60 external applications giving a total of 87 applicants.
The letter read: “Thus, we urge you to take immediate corrective action to restore the integrity of the process by dissolving the governing council, declare their proceedings null and void, and reconstitute a new governing council to superintend fresh and free process that will lead to the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the University of Abuja.
“Failure to address our concerns will have far-reaching consequences for the university and the higher education system in Nigeria as other governing councils will gladly emulate this ugly and unfortunate path taken by the University of Abuja Governing Council.”
The letter came up after a Senate meeting convened by the council was called off by the then Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi after it was rescheduled from the original time.
The university denied the allegation.
Earlier yesterday, it was rumoured that the external governing council members boycotted a meeting with the chairman of the council, Air Vice Marshal Kaita (retd).
Reports add that Kaita had called for the council meeting late Monday to appoint a substantive vice -chancellor by 3:00pm on Tuesday.
However, a source close to the university said the external members were not aware of the decision of the chairman as he could not produce an agenda before the meeting.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, stated that the law was clear about the selection and appointment of vice –chancellor.
According to the source, the law states that unless the chairman, two council members, who are not members of senate, two representatives of senate who are not members of council are present, any interview conducted for the selection of VCs is null and void.
“There is no provision for just one Senate representative or four members. The issue of quorum does not arise. All the members must be present,” the source said.
The external council members who boycotted the meeting include: Prof Raphael Akinfeleye, representing South West, Mrs. Chisom Dorcas Obih, representing South East and Alhaji Sabo Bappayo Ahmed, representing North East.
Professor Aisha Maikudi was born on 31st January 1983 in Katsina State. She is a professor of International Law at the University of Abuja and served in an acting capacity from 5th July 2024.
She joined the University of Abuja as a Lecturer II on 4th September 2008 and rose through the ranks to become a professor in 2021.