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Crisis Looms at UniAbuja as Allegations of Bias in VC Appointment Emerge

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The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) is on the verge of an industrial crisis following allegations of a plot by the Governing Council to impose the Acting Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi, as the substantive vice chancellor. The controversy has stirred unrest among officials and staff, who accuse the Council of manipulating the appointment process to favor Prof. Maikudi, daughter of the former council chairman, Alhaji Sani Maikudi.

The situation traces back to the tenure of the immediate past VC, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, who reportedly orchestrated Prof. Maikudi’s appointment as acting VC in the twilight of his administration. According to sources within the institution, Na’Allah allegedly influenced her rise as a reward to Alhaji Sani Maikudi, who is said to have played a crucial role in his own appointment five years ago by bending several rules to ensure his emergence as VC.

Concerns have now mounted, with claims that Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismail Kaita (retd.), the Chairman of the Governing Council, lowered the eligibility criteria for the VC position in a recent advertisement published in a national daily. The officials argue that this was done to favor the acting VC, Prof. Maikudi, despite her lacking the requisite experience as mandated by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for such appointments.

The alleged favoritism has led some to believe that the Governing Council is playing into an ethnic agenda, with insinuations that the Chairman of the Council, supported by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman—both of Fulani descent—is pushing to appoint an unqualified candidate.

UniAbuja’s spokesperson, Dr. Habib Yakoob, has refuted these claims of an imminent crisis, emphasizing that the process is still in its early stages. “There is no crisis of succession for the position of UniAbuja VC. The advert for the position of VC was placed on August 26, 2024, and just expired last week. At this point, only the Selection and Search Committees (from Council, Senate, and Congregation) have been constituted. Nothing else has been done. So any suggestion of imposition or preference for a particular candidate is purely speculative, premature, and mischievous,” Yakoob stated.

He further added that the Council, composed of credible individuals, would conduct a transparent process to ensure fairness in selecting the next substantive vice chancellor.

However, some insiders claim otherwise. One official who spoke to Daily Sun alleged that a “stormy” Council meeting occurred last Friday, where the Chairman of the Governing Council was reportedly accused of bending the rules in favor of the acting VC.

“There was a heated session over an attempt by the chairman and a few others to impose the acting VC, who is not qualified by any standards. The immediate past VC orchestrated this problem for personal reasons. He fast-tracked her promotion to deputy vice chancellor in 2022, knowing this would qualify her for the top position,” the official alleged.

The official further claimed that Prof. Maikudi’s father, who hails from Katsina, was instrumental in securing Prof. Na’Allah’s position five years ago. In return, Na’Allah allegedly “rewarded” him by fast-tracking his daughter’s career, culminating in her appointment as acting VC.

“When the Governing Council advertised the vacancy for the post of VC, all standards were lowered to pave the way for the acting VC, who has only two years of professorial experience,” the source added. This manipulation, they said, was the root cause of the friction during the recent Council meeting, where several members reportedly objected to the chairman’s overt support for Prof. Maikudi.

Meanwhile, Prof. Sylvester Ugoh, Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UniAbuja chapter, expressed caution about commenting on the matter. “I am not a member of the Council, so I do not have firsthand information on what might have transpired. However, the conventional requirement is that a candidate should have extensive university management experience. I cannot confirm whether this is clearly stated in UniAbuja law or any guidelines.”

The situation at UniAbuja mirrors concerns raised at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), where the Medical and Dental Consultants Association (MDCAN) and the Unizik Medics Alumni Association (UMAA) have similarly rejected the VC selection process. Both associations have raised alarm over what they describe as violations of the University’s establishment Act and the exclusion of certain academic disciplines, particularly clinical lecturers, from the process.

UMAA officials have highlighted significant discrepancies in the advertisement for the VC position at UNIZIK, asserting that it contravenes the provisions of the University’s establishment Act. They argue that the advertisement unfairly narrows the field of candidates by emphasizing personal achievements and securing specific research funding, which they claim disenfranchises many qualified applicants.

MDCAN President, Prof. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, also decried the exclusion of medical and dental lecturers from the selection process, warning that this could harm the university’s medical programs. “This exclusion undermines the critical role medical and dental lecturers play in the university’s mission and could lead to a breakdown in collaboration and morale,” he said.

Education

Kano Govt Allocates 13% of N549b Budget to Education

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Prioritizing infrastructure, Health, and Education, Governor Abba Yusuf gave the Kano State House of Assembly a historic N549.16 billion 2025 budget.

The plan, known as the “Budget of Hope, Human Capital, and Economic Development,” highlights the administration’s commitment to development and growth by allocating 57% of funds to capital projects (N312.63 billion) and 43% to recurring expenses (N236.53 billion).

With N168.35 billion, or 31% of the total budget, education obtained the largest share in a daring move—a record for any one ministry in Kano.

Infrastructure development comes in at 12.87 percent (N70.68 billion), followed by health at 16.5% (N90.6 billion). Agriculture receives 3.83 percent (N21.04 billion), security and justice receive 4% (N23.46 billion), and governance institutions receive 17.57 percent (N98.24 billion).

“Our focus for 2025 is human capital and infrastructural development,” Yusuf stated, stressing the administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality education despite limited resources. He announced plans to revive the Kano Education Development Support (KEDS) agency to support educational funding, expressing confidence that the legislature would back the initiative. “I believe the legislature will give the necessary legal teeth in fine-tuning its edict for full implementation.”

In order to strengthen governance and promote long-term growth, Governor Yusuf also emphasized suggested legislative reforms, including as laws for social protection, education trust, security, and civil service. He emphasized that a strategic focus on striking a balance between social needs and economic objectives is reflected in the 2025 budget.

He urged the Assembly to approve the plan immediately, saying, “We will not compromise in our determination to reduce poverty, restore hope, create wealth, create jobs, and stimulate agriculture for the overall well-being of our people.”

Speaker Jibril Falgore responded to the governor’s speech by pledging the assembly’s commitment to ensuring the budget is passed quickly.

“We understand the importance of timely implementation for the benefit of our people, and we will work diligently to ensure the budget is reviewed and passed promptly,” he stated.

In the upcoming weeks, the Kano State Assembly will start discussing the budget.

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Council Denies Prof Abah FUHSO Acting VC Appointment

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Prof. Stephen Obekpa Abah’s purported appointment as acting Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), has been turned down by the institution’s management.

The Federal Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir S. Gwarzo, ordered the reinstatement of Prof. Innocent Ujah, the suspended Former Vice Chancellor, a move that the Governing Council has also resisted.

The statement claims that an unauthorized meeting chaired by suspended Vice Chancellor Prof. Innocent A. O. Ujah was the source of the announcement about Prof. Abah’s appointment that went viral on social media on November 5, 2024.

The institution explained that in order to get around established procedures—specifically, the Registrar’s responsibility to notify the Senate of meetings—the meeting notice was sent on the suspended Vice-Chancellor’s letterhead.

The meeting’s illegitimacy should have been brought to the attention of the Registrar, who is the Senate’s official secretary under the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (Establishment) Act of 2022.

According to the statement, Prof. Ujah’s attempts to forcibly enter the G.R.A. Otukpo Campus with armed people were thwarted by concerted security measures.

This group later released a false statement regarding the appointment of Prof. Stephen Abah, who is allegedly facing a criminal case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Governing Council reiterated that Prof. Innocent A.O. Ujah is still suspended and does not have the legal authority to call Senate meetings.

Furthermore, they stated that Prof. Ediga Bede Agbo is the duly appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor and his position is secure.

Despite being denied access, it was reported that Prof. Ujah, accompanied by armed individuals, held a small gathering at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital Otukpo, where the fraudulent meeting took place.

As a violation of university governance that has unnecessarily agitated the academic community, the Council denounced the acts of Professor Ujah and his colleagues.

They advised all community members, employees, and students to ignore any assertions made by Professor Abah and carry on with their regular administrative and academic duties.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Nasir Gwarzo, the Permanent Secretary, wrote a letter protesting Prof. Ujah’s suspension. The Governing Council retorted that Prof. Ujah is still suspended and is unable to chair Senate sessions or designate a replacement.

The Council asserted that the Governing Council is the highest authority of the institution and is in charge of its general direction and governance, citing Sections 2 (1)–(3) of the Universities Miscellaneous Act 2003. Therefore, the Permanent Secretary must support the Council’s decision in a letter.

“The directive from the Permanent Secretary represents undue interference in the Council’s activities and an attempt to undermine its authority,” the statement read.

The Permanent Secretary implied awareness of a potential threat to campus peace that has not yet materialized when he claimed that the former Vice Chancellor’s reinstatement would bring peace back.

Since the old vice chancellor was suspended, the campus has remained calm and joyous. Accountability for any potential breach of peace resulting from these actions was demanded in the statement.

“The Permanent Secretary has failed to assess the current situation at the university, remaining oblivious to the widespread jubilation that followed the suspension of the former vice-chancellor,” it concluded.

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NAPPS Unhappy About Improvised Religious School Buildings

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The Nationwide Practice of Private Schools sharing facilities with places of worship has drawn criticism from the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS).

The National President of NAPPS, Mr. Yomi Odubela, addressed concerns about this matter at a press conference introducing the recently approved 2023 NAPPS Constitution and the newly appointed NAPPS Nigeria Board of Trustees.

He emphasized the necessity for private schools to function in autonomous, purpose-built facilities that satisfy the highest educational standards and outlined the association’s expectations for the new Board of Trustees.

Otubela said, “We must uphold minimum standards for operating private schools in Nigeria. Some unacceptable practices include the improper arrangement of private schools sharing spaces with religious buildings, a lack of qualified teachers, and a general disregard for educational integrity. As a governing body, we expect the Board of Trustees to lead by example, setting a standard of excellence and professionalism. Mediocrity should not have a place in our educational system.”

He went on to say that NAPPS would keep pushing for the growth of private education, guaranteeing standards of quality, encouraging improved working conditions for private school owners, and working with government organizations to enhance national educational policies.

“NAPPS Nigeria remains fully committed to foster progress in educational development and quality pedagogy, ensuring that our association continues to be a pillar of excellence and positive transformation in the educational landscape of Nigeria.”

He disclosed that the 2023 NAPPS Constitution and the recently appointed Board of Trustees had both been formally approved by the Corporate Affairs Commission, marking the start of a new leadership team aimed at raising educational standards and promoting harmony within Nigeria’s private education industry.

After a careful examination of the governance procedure, NAPPS Nigeria has successfully had the Corporate Affairs Commission recognize and approve its new Board of Trustees. This change follows worries about past BOT appointments that did not follow the association’s constitutionally required processes.

During NAPPS Nigeria’s National Delegates Congress on February 15, 2024, the CAC formally approved the new leadership structure and de-recognized former BOT members as part of the reforms.

The congress, which comprised state chapters and officials from the National Executive Council, played a crucial role in ensuring the new board’s legitimacy. Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kundak, Chairman of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North East), and Dr. (Mrs.) Edna Opara, Secretary of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South South), are the recently approved members of the NAPPS Nigeria Board of Trustees.

Dr. Alhaji Rabiu Abdulkadir is the trustee of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North West); Pst. (Mrs.) Tabitha Salaudeen is the trustee of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North Central); Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria Odubo is the trustee of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South South); Mr. Udochukwu Jen is the assistant secretary of NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South East);

Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT, Alhaji Ibrahim Yelwa; Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South East), Arch. Samuel Onweluzo;    Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North East), Alhaji Ali Misau; Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North Central) Comr. Idakpo Jude; Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South West), Safiriyu Ganiyu Idowu; Trustee, NAPPS Nigeria BOT (South West), Ogunyeye Obafemi Thaddeus;

NAPPS Nigeria BOT (North West), Alhaji Lawal Sayyadi – Trustee.

Otubela said, “This new leadership structure, which is in full compliance with NAPPS Nigeria’s constitution, marks a turning point for the association and is set to enhance advocacy efforts for private schools nationwide.

“As part of its ongoing commitment to improving educational standards, NAPPS Nigeria will host the NAPPS International Conference and Exhibition (NICE 2024) from November 20-21, 2024 in Calabar, Cross River State. The theme for this year’s conference is “Illuminate, Innovate, Elevate: Breaking Barriers in the Education Sector for National Development.”

He stated that on November 21, 2024, NAPPS Nigeria would have its National Delegates Conference at the International Conference Centre in Calabar in addition to the International Conference.

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