Amid the crisis ravaging the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) over the imposition of acting Vice Chancellor Prof Aisha Maikudi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor without due process, over 50 Professors and other senior lecturers are protesting at the Federal Ministry of Education against the charade.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS gathered that the protest which is currently ongoing at the front of the Federal Ministry of Education, was to compel the minister to do the needful and dissolve the council and the charade called the appointment of a VC.
According to one of the sources, the lecturers who are currently at the front of the Ministry of Education, wondered why the Minister was so lenient in taking action against the illegal appointment of Vice Chancellor in UniAbuja, but he was quick in intervening at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Vice Chancellor’s appointment.
The source wondered what had changed in the two appointments if the Minister of Education could wield his power in Anambra and now reluctant to do the same in Abuja.
“I guess the protest is for the minister to do the needful to dissolve the council and the charade called appointment of a VC.
“The process by all standards is against the law and laid down procedures and if the Minister finds what is done in Awka wrong; why is he dragging his feet on that of UniAbuja. Who is really behind the illegality,” the source said.
Our correspondent also gathered that the lecturers would hold a world press conference to condemn the foot dragging of the ministry of education in the illegal appointment of VC in UniAbuja.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS reported on December 31, that the University of Abuja’s Senate members passed a vote of no confidence on the Governing Council, citing manipulation of the Vice-Chancellor appointment process and breach of university laws.
In a letter to the Minister of Education, dated December 27 and signed by 43 Senate members, the senators expressed their loss of faith in the Governing Council’s ability to appoint a qualified VC.
The letter which we obtained urged the Minister to dissolve the Governing Council, declare their proceedings null and void, and reconstitute a new council to oversee a fresh and fair appointment process.
Titled, “complaint regarding the manipulation of Vice Chancellor appointment processes at the University of Abuja,” they warned that failure to address their concerns could have far-reaching consequences for the university and Nigeria’s higher education system.
Interestingly, the development comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit filed by six senior lecturers against the university’s Vice Chancellor, citing that the suit was statute-barred.
