Forty-one professors and two academic doctors of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) have jointly signed a petition stating that the new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, doesn’t have the required 10 years of professorial experience to qualify for the esteemed position.
The institution has been in internal turmoil over the selection of Prof. Maikudi as the substantive VC on December 31, 2024, by the Governing Council, after acting from June 30, 2024 to December 30, 2024.
Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (Rtd) is the chairman and Pro-chancellor of the 10th Governing Council of University of Abuja. He was appointed in June 2024 by the president.
The aggrieved scholars, who are also members of the institution’s Senate, noted in their petition to President Bola Tinubu that the institution’s Governing Council breached relevant university law by forcing Maikudi onto them, describing her as “unqualified to hold the position on us.”
The aggrieved 41 professors who signed the petition are:
1) Prof. Jude Omeje,
2) Prof. W.D Nafarnda,
3) Prof. Umaru D. Muhammed,
4) Prof. S.A.J Obansa,
5) Prof. Yau Muhammed Damagum,
6) Prof. M.O Durojaye,
7) Prof. Ifeoma Echezona,
8) Prof. Yusuf Ahmadu,
9) Prof. Effiok Bassey Uwatt,
10) Prof. Abdulhamid Ozohu-Suleiman,
11) Prof. Olanrewaju Aladeitan,
12) Prof. Mabel I.E Evwiohana,
13) Prof. Ndana R.W,
14) Prof. J.O Ogedendenge,
15) Prof. Muktar A. Muhammed,
16) Prof. Aisuodionoe-Shadrach O.I,
17) Prof. James Ojobo,
18) Prof. Simon M.K,
19) Prof. Simon Abochol,
20) Prof. Saleh Dauda,
21) Prof. Rosemary Udeozor,
22) Prof. Muhammed A. Katcha,
23) Prof. Yusuf Zoaka,
24) Prof. Philip Akpen,
25) Prof. Nkiruka C. Odoh,
26) Prof. Obida Gobna,
27) Prof. Shimawua Atimga,
28) Prof. M.U. Ndagi,
29) Prof. O.F Ajagbona,
30) Prof. Uwakwe Abugu,
31) Prof. A.M Maisamari,
32) Prof. G.M Oladele,
33) Prof. Ejeikwu E.O.,
34) Prof. Ishaya M. Dagwa,
35) Prof. Sani Saka,
36) Prof. Magdalene Igbolo,
37) Prof. Otaki Alananan,
38) Prof. I.C. Nnadi,
39) Prof. F.N Ogwueleka,
40) Prof. C.B.I Alaw,
41) Prof. J.J. Ndana.
The two academic doctors who joined in signing the petition are:
1) Dr. Sylvester S.
2) Dr. Yekeen Abdulmalik.
Maikudi became a professor in 2022
In the petition titled “Complaint regarding the manipulation of Vice-Chancellor appointment processes at the University of Abuja”, which was sent to President Tinubu through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and dated January 2, 2025, the professors outlined their grievances.
They said one of the requirements to qualify as VC is to have reached the rank of professor for at least 10 years. They claimed the Governing Council disregarded important guidelines, such as the minimum of 10 years of professorial experience, which was specified in the advertisement for the position published in newspapers in August 2024.
They also submitted that Maikudi only became a professor in 2022 and noted that she lacked scholarly visibility, coupled with weak academic credentials.
What the aggrieved professors want
While passing a vote of no confidence on the current council, some of their demands are:
1) President Tinubu should dissolve the Governing Council without delay because they failed to follow due process.
2) Reconstitution of a new Governing Council to oversee a new appointment process.
3) Nullification of all decisions taken by the current Kaita-led Governing Council, accusing it of violations of relevant laws and regulations, favoritism, abuse of privileges, undue interference, and lack of fairness.
Inclusion of an unqualified member in the constitution of the Governing Council
Also included in their petition is the appointment of a representative from the Federal Ministry of Education in the council, whom they described as a businesswoman lacking the expertise required to uphold quality assurance in higher education governance.
Part of the petition reads: “We have lost total faith and confidence in the Governing Council as they have exhibited a lack of integrity and competence, and inability to be fair and just in producing the best and most qualified Vice-Chancellor for the University.”
They admonished Tinubu to correct the anomaly going on in the institution so as to avoid setting a bad precedent for other higher institutions of learning across the country.
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