The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has summoned the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, over what it described as alleged indiscriminate sack of vice chancellors and the dissolution of governing councils in many federal universities.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata, issued the summon on Friday during the committee’s hearing on a petition demanding the reinstatement of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja.
Fulata said the Education Minister’s appearance before the committee has become necessary following a spate of petitions over recent developments in institutions such as the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri; Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka; and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), among others.
He warned that the continued removal of substantive Vice Chancellors and dissolution of governing councils without due process was destabilizing the university system.
“These actions have created instability in our universities, generated unnecessary conflicts among university stakeholders, and raised concerns over the abuse of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act,” Fulata said.
Speaking on behalf of the petitioners under the banner of “Aggrieved Staff of the University of Abuja,” Professor Abubakar Garba Umar Kari described the removal of Prof. Maikudi and the dissolution of the university’s council on February 6, 2025, a day after the institution’s matriculation ceremony, as a shocking and illegal move.
According to him, Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi was removed as Vice Chancellor and Air Vice Marshal Ismaila Kaita (rtd) relieved of his position as Chairman of the Governing Council without any formal communication or justification in line with the extant laws.
He noted that Senator Lanre Tejuoso was appointed as Chairman of a new council while Prof. Patricia Manko Lar of the University of Jos was named Acting Vice Chancellor.
Kari argued that the action contravened the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 2003, “which clearly stipulates that only the governing council is empowered to remove a Vice Chancellor, and only based on proven misconduct or inability to perform the functions of the office.
He urged the House committee to intervene and ensure the immediate reinstatement of Prof. Maikudi and the restoration of the university’s governing council, especially its internal members, who were duly elected by the University Senate and Congregation.
When they appeared before the committee, both Prof. Maikudi and AVM Kaita (rtd) confirmed they were never officially informed of their disengagement and insisted that due process was followed in their appointments.
(Daily Trust)
