UniAbuja faces fresh crisis over VC appointment

Senior professors at the University of Abuja, on Tuesday, protested what they described as a “flawed” process for the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor of the institution.

The institution has been enmeshed in crisis following the exit of the immediate past VC, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah on July 1.

Na’Allah before his exit as VC commenced the process for the appointment of his successor.

Though Na’Allah handed over to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor academics, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, a law professor, in an acting capacity, there has been brewing tension in the institution as certain stakeholders insisted that Maikudi did not have enough years of qualification as a professor to attain such height.

Recently, Maikudi, in a letter to the Minister of Education through the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), dated November 6, 2024, raised concerns over the governance of the school, alleging that a series of actions taken, under the leadership of the council, had the potential of seriously impinging good governance, stability and progress of the University of Abuja.

Maikudi said the conduct of the council was making it impossible to have a smooth relationship with the school management under her leadership.

However, the governing council refuted the claim of blocking Prof. Aisha Maikudi’s appointment as the university’s substantive vice-chancellor.

Meanwhile, a source close to the senate of the school noted that no fewer than 40 candidates are in the race to become the substantive VC of the institution.

The spokesperson of the institution, Dr. Yakoob Habib said the university remained committed to due process.

During the protest, the crew of Channels Television came under attack.

On arrival at the school, security operatives attacked Channels Television’s team, damaging its vehicle. The gun-wielding men manhandled members of the crew before detaining them for over an hour.

Footage of the attack showed some of the security men force members of the Channels Television’s crew down from the vehicle, questioning their presence in the school.