A serious governance dispute has erupted at the University of Abuja, with the acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Aisha Maikudi, accusing the Chairman of the Governing Council, Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Isma’ila Kaita, of undue interference in university affairs. This disagreement has raised concerns over the potential impact on the university’s operations and academic environment.
Professor Maikudi, a law expert and the first female professor of law at the university, was appointed acting Vice Chancellor following the conclusion of Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah’s tenure on June 30, 2024. Maikudi, who was also the youngest professor of law at the university, has been at the center of a growing controversy after reports emerged in October suggesting that the university’s governing council, led by Kaita, was attempting to secure her as the permanent Vice Chancellor by relaxing the institution’s qualification standards.
Sources claim that this move was orchestrated with the help of the university’s former VC, Na’Allah, who reportedly sought to repay a favor to Maikudi’s father, who had supported Na’Allah’s appointment to the VC position years earlier.
However, in a formal letter to the Minister of Education dated November 6, 2024, Maikudi expressed serious concerns over the actions of the university’s governance under Kaita’s leadership. She pointed out several issues she believes could undermine the university’s stability, governance, and credibility.
The first issue raised by Maikudi was the appointment process for the university’s new Bursar. She accused the council of bypassing established procedures, stating that the Chairman had appointed a consultant with excessive authority, undermining the Joint Senate and Council Bursar Selection Board. She also claimed that the absence of a representative from the Federal Ministry of Education violated regulations, and that she was pressured to sign the final report of the selection under duress. Despite her objections, the Chairman reportedly announced the appointment of a new bursar without proper council endorsement.
Maikudi also highlighted the rejection of her choice for Acting Registrar, which was dismissed on what she called “unsubstantiated legal grounds.” This rejection, she argued, further undermined her authority and disrupted the orderly management of the university.
Additionally, the acting VC raised concerns about the frequent use of extraordinary council meetings, which she said were consuming unnecessary resources and not addressing critical issues like staff promotions or pending disciplinary matters. She noted that since the current council’s inauguration, only one regular meeting had been held, with all others being extraordinary meetings called on short notice.
In her letter, Maikudi urged immediate corrective action to restore proper governance and stability to the university, warning that the ongoing issues could have serious long-term consequences for the institution.
The letter, which was also copied to the Pro-Chancellor Kaita, has sparked concerns about the future of governance at the University of Abuja. With tensions rising between the acting VC and the Chairman, the university’s stakeholders are closely watching how the situation will evolve, as its academic and administrative processes remain in jeopardy.
