UNIABUJA VC: Anger Over Lowering Of Requisite Qualifications
The process to select a substantive Vice Chancellor for the University of Abuja, UNIABUJA, may hit the rocks following the allegation of underground moves to manipulate the process to favour a particular candidate.
The situation almost ruined last Friday’s meeting of members of the Governing Council of the institution when heated arguments ensued among the members over allegations of working to favour a particular candidate by some council members rent the air.
The council members are now polarized into those who want the standards, as set by the supervising Federal Ministry of Education adhered to and those who want the process tinkered with.
When the tenure of Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah was about to expire on July 1, 2024, the then Governing Council in March, this year, placed an advert requesting applications from suitably qualified candidates.
However, with the dissolution of Governing Councils of universities and the constitution of new ones, the new Council in August this year, placed another advert calling for applications.
The issue in contention is the 10 years post professorial experience required of anyone desiring to become the VC of a federal university. The requirements were set by the Federal Ministry of Education.
But, in the August advert, the Council was silent on the 10 years post professorial experience.
Even the advert placed by Na’Allah before he left office was condemned by the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which accused the former VC and the Minister of Education of breaching certain rules.
The ASUU Chairman, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, raised the alarm then at a press briefing in Abuja.
When Na’Allah was leaving office, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, who became a professor in 2022 and was subsequently appointed a Deputy Vice Chancellor, was made the Acting Vice Chancellor.
We are watching the situation – Osodeke
When contacted, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said the union is keenly monitoring the situation.
“We gathered that they have placed advert calling for applications for the position. That is the duty of the Governing Council and they have done that. It is also their duty to set up a Selection Committee and then the committee will report to the Council. On the issue of whether some underground moves are on to manipulate the process to favour any candidate, that has not been officially brought to our attention as a union,” he stated.
We are aware of complaints – Registrar
The Registrar, who is also the Secretary to the Governing Council of the institution, Mallam Yahya Mohammed, told our correspondent on phone that the Council is aware of complaints by some people regarding the advert placed.
“The Council met last week and we have started opening the envelopes sent by applicants. We are still on that. So, nothing substantial has been done on the selection of a new Vice Chancellor. We are also aware of complaints by some people regarding the advert placed,” he said.
Asked whether the advert met the required standards as set by the Federal Ministry of Education, the Registrar said he had no comment on that but assured that the Council would be sensitive to the feelings of stakeholders and would do what would not impugn the integrity of the university.
He also denied the allegation that the process is being skewed to favour any particular candidate.
However, efforts to speak with the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, the acting VC, Prof. Aisha Maikudi and the Chairman of the Governing Council, AVM Ismaila Kaita, failed.
Calls made to their phone numbers were not picked, while they also did not reply to text messages sent to them as at press time.
