Trouble is brewing at the University of Abuja as Professor Aisha Maikudi, the acting Vice Chancellor, and Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Isma’ila Kaita, Chairman of the Governing Council, are locked in a heated dispute over the institution’s governance.
This development has raised concerns about the potential impact on the university’s operations and academic environment.
Maikudi, a law expert, was appointed acting Vice Chancellor after the tenure of Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah ended on June 30, 2024.
Notably, she is the university’s youngest professor of law and the first female to hold the position.
In October, SaharaReporters reported how the Governing Council of the university led by Kaita, was reportedly attempting to impose Maikudi as its substantive Vice Chancellor.
According to sources, the university’s governing council bent the rules by relaxing qualification standards in an attempt to facilitate Maikudi’s appointment as the substantive VC.
This move raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the selection process.
According to multiple university sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, the plot to install Maikudi as Vice Chancellor was orchestrated by the immediate past VC, Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah.
Sources claimed Na’Allah sought to repay a debt of gratitude to Maikudi’s father, who helped him secure the VC position five years earlier despite significant opposition.
However, Maikudi, in a letter sent 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.
The acting vice-chancellor alleged that a series of actions taken under the leadership of the Chairman of Council, Kaita, “have the potential of seriously impinging the good governance, stability and progress of the University of Abuja”.
Maikudi said the conduct of the Pro-chancellor is making it impossible for a smooth relationship between the Council and the school management under her leadership.
She highlighted three issues, one of which is about the appointment of a new substantive bursar.
According to her, the appointment process for the University Bursar has been marked by “a serious breach of procedure and undue interference”.
She said, “The previous Council began the process, and the current Council was to complete it, however, the Chairman appointed a Consultant with excessive authority, undermining the Joint Senate and Council Bursar Selection Board thereby bypassing mandatory protocols.
“Additionally, the absence of the Federal Ministry of Education’s representative contravened regulations. When I refused to endorse the final report, the meeting was postponed, and I was pressured to sign under duress.
“Senate representatives have not signed the report to date. The non-endorsement by the Senate Representatives is a clear sign that all is not well with the process.
“At the 70th Extraordinary Meeting of Council, agenda item no. 6, which concerned the bursar’s appointment, was left unaddressed, yet the Chairman unilaterally announced a new Bursar without a valid endorsement and decision by the Council.”
She described Kaita’s actions as “blatant disregard for due process”, saying it has compromised the legitimacy of the selection process.
Maikudi also lamented an issue regarding the appointment of an Acting Registrar, saying she nominated the most senior deputy registrar, but the Council Chairman rejected her choice on “unsubstantiated legal grounds”.
She said, “This unrelenting interference not only impinges my authority and statutory duties as Acting Vice Chancellor, but also threatens the stability and the orderly conduct of the University administration.
“Another extraordinary meeting has now been called for Friday 9th November on the same matter, creating a very disconcerting atmosphere.”
The third issue concerns the alleged misuse of extraordinary meetings and council resources.
She said, “Since the current Council’s inauguration, only one Regular Meeting has been held, with the remainder being extraordinary meetings.
“These are frequently convened on short notice and for non-urgent matters, consuming significant resources and the requisite attention for pressing issues such as staff promotions and pending disciplinary matters.
“This financial drain was explicitly raised in the presence of the Acting Bursar on November 4, 2024, yet the pattern persists. This apparent strain on the scarce university resources mirrors governance issues that led to the indictment of a previous Council, with potentially serious repercussions
“These matters illustrate and portend a troubling trend with serious consequences for established governance standards, thereby threatening the stability, credibility, and effective and efficient management of the University of Abuja.
“There is therefore the urgent need for immediate corrective action and restoration of order, confidence and a sense of purpose towards a responsible governance system.”
“May I most respectfully call for some prompt intervention to address these pressing issues and to bring Council conduct back within the bounds of its legal obligations,” she added.
The letter was copied to the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Kaita.
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