Fresh Controversy In UNIABUJA VC Appointment As Education Ministry Denies Letter Purportedly Issued To Governing Council Chairman To Circumvent Due Process
Some staff of the Federal ministry of Education told SaharaReporters on Thursday that the letter which SaharaReporters obtained was fake as the minister had never authorised it.
Aletter purportedly authorising the Governing Council of the University of Abuja to conclude the selection processes of the Vice Chancellor and Registrar appointments for the university before December 31, 2024 without due process has ignited another controversy over its genuineness.
Some staff of the Federal ministry of Education told SaharaReporters on Thursday that the letter which SaharaReporters obtained was fake as the minister had never authorised it.
On December 31, 2024, SaharaReporters reported that Prof Aisha Maikudi had been announced as the new Vice-Chancellor of the school despite the controversy and protests surrounding the selection process.
The appointment of Maikudi, who until her appointment was the acting Vice Chancellor, had been met with resistance from some professors, who raised the alarm that the selection process was manipulated to favour her.
They also alleged that the Chairman of the Governing Council, Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (retd.), rushed to conclude the selection process during the Christmas and New Year breaks, without giving adequate time for proper evaluation.
The Chairman of the Council had cited a letter purportedly from the Minister of Education which was signed by Director University Education, one Mrs R.G Ilyasu, to conclude the selection and appointment of both Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the University on or before December 31, 2024 which he said he had complied to.
The letter dated 13th December, 2024, addressed to the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, University of Abuja, and copied the acting Vice Chancellor Prof Aisha Maikudi, who was then a contestant was titled: “the need to conclude the selection process for the positions of Vice-Chancellor and Registrar for the University of Abuja”.
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It read: “I am directed to bring to your notice the plethora of negative publications on the social/news media pertaining to the selection process for the Vice- Chancellor and Registrar of the University. It is important to point out that this negative publicity does not augur well for a citadel of learning like the University of Abuja.
“Consequently, I am further directed to advice you to urgently convey an Extra-Ordinary Meeting of council to carry out all the necessary procedures in the appointment of the two principal officers (Vice-Chancellor and Registrar). The Honorable Minister of Education has directed that this process should be conducted, concluded and appoint a substantive Vice-Chancellor and Registrar for the University of Abuja, on or before the 31st December 2024.
“Please, accept the assurances of the Honorable Minister’s warm regards.”
Meanwhile, sources at the Federal Ministry of Education, who spoke to SaharaReporters on Thursday, faulted the letter, describing it as “fake”, noting that the Honourable Minister, Dr Tunji Alaussa had never authorised the letter as his consent was not sought before Ilyasu issued it.
One of the sources told SaharaReporters that while the member of the joint selection board for the Vice Chancellorship representing the ministry of education, Mallam Abubakar K. Isa, Director, ICT was aware of the letter, other members of the Council were not in the know until during a meeting of the council at the eve of Christmas, when the Chairman mentioned it.
“He only mentioned the letter at the council meeting and told them that he is keeping it to himself,” the source said.
“At the joint board, he seriously reiterated his intention to finish the exercise by 31st December which was amongst what we queried before walking out,” another source told SaharaReporters.
“So, the letter cannot be genuine because the Minister could not have authorised the council to circumvent the selection and appointment processes of the Vice Chancellor and Registrar for UniAbuja after the same Minister nullified the appointment of Prof Bernard Odoh as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on allegations of procedural irregularities.
“Otherwise, the Minister has to tell Nigerians his personal interest in Prof Aisha Maikudi becoming the VC UniAbuja.”
When SaharaReporters reached out to the spokesperson of the ministry, Mrs Faleshede Boriowo, Director Press, she simply said: “I will get back to you after confirmation.”
As of the time of filing this report, she had yet to get back as promised and subsequent calls to her phone were not picked.
