Mr Viral
SaharaReporters earlier reported that government-appointed members of the Governing Council from southern Nigerian had expressed concerns over the selection process.
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the University of Abuja (ASUU-UNIABUJA) are currently meeting over the controversy surrounding the process of selecting the substantive vice-chancellor for the University.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that government-appointed members of the Governing Council from southern Nigerian had expressed concerns over the selection process.
In a letter to the Minister of Education, the council members Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye – South West and Mrs. Chisom Dorcas Obih – South East, warned that the situation could lead to litigation, crises, and embarrassment to the Governing Council and the Nigerian university system if not addressed.
The petitioners lamented that none of the three external members of the Council, including the chairman of the selection board is from the South.
Obih and Akinfeleye also said they were deliberately assigned roles that would prevent them from serving on the selection board.
The letter, titled “A Minority Report on the ongoing Vice-Chancellorship Selection Process at the University of Abuja,” and addressed to the Minister of Education, was copied to President Bola Tinubu, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, and other relevant authorities.
The University of Abuja has been embroiled in controversy over the appointment of a new vice-chancellor, with accusations that the governing council led by Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (Rtd), is trying to impose Aisha Maikudi, acting vice-chancellor as the substantive VC, despite concerns over her qualifications.
On the criteria for shortlisting of applicants, the petitioners revealed that the objective and credible criteria for the shortlisting of applicants as recommended by the sub-committee saddled with this task which was earlier approved by te council on December 14, 2024 had been doctored to unduly favour a particular candidate.
A source in the university told SaharaReporters on Friday that the University of Abuja branch of ASUU was deliberating on the crisis rocking the selection process.
“ASUU members of the University are currently meeting now at the University campus over the issues surrounding the selection of substantive Vice-Chancellor. Hopefully, ASUU will take a definitive position on the matter,” said the source.
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