A new controversy has erupted over the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) after the Federal Ministry of Education discredited a letter allegedly authorizing the Governing Council to bypass due process in finalizing the selection.
The letter, dated December 13, 2024, purportedly directed the council to appoint a Vice-Chancellor and Registrar by December 31, citing “negative publicity” that could tarnish the institution’s reputation.
However, ministry insiders dismissed the document as fake, stating that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alaussa, never approved such a directive.
Despite the protests, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, who was acting as Vice-Chancellor, was announced as the new substantive VC on December 31.
Her appointment has faced resistance from some professors, who alleged the selection process was manipulated to favour her. Critics claim Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (retd.), the Governing Council Chairman, hastily concluded the process during the holiday season to avoid scrutiny.
The contentious letter, signed by Mrs. R.G. Ilyasu, Director of University Education, was reportedly revealed during a council meeting on Christmas Eve.
Sources allege that the chairman withheld the letter until the meeting, asserting that he was acting under the minister’s instructions.
However, ministry officials strongly refuted this, with one source pointing out the inconsistency, as the same minister had previously nullified appointments in other universities over irregularities.
The Ministry’s spokesperson, Mrs. Faleshede Boriowo, promised to confirm the letter’s authenticity but had yet to respond at the time of publication.
