The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has directed Senator Lanre Tejuoso, Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), to halt the selection and appointment process for a new substantive Vice-Chancellor and Registrar.
This decision follows a petition from 98 university staff members who demanded the immediate restoration of Prof Aisha Sani Maikudi to her position as Vice Chancellor.
Professor Maikudi was sacked by President Bola Tinubu on February 6, 2025, along with the dissolution of the university’s governing council, citing a protracted crisis over her appointment.
The president appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor for a six-month term and Senator Tejuoso as Pro-Chancellor.
However, the university staff in petition to the House of Representatives dated May 31, alleged that Professor Maikudi’s removal didn’t follow the provisions of the Universities Miscellaneous Act of 1993.
According to the Act, a Vice-Chancellor can only be removed by the Governing Council on grounds of gross misconduct or inability to discharge duties. The staff claimed that the federal government violated these provisions and that the governing council’s dissolution was unlawful.
They also made several allegations against the Pro-Chancellor, which the House of Representatives Committee on University Education will investigate, and has invited Senator Tejuoso to appear before it on June 26, 2025.
The committee in a letter to the Pro-Chancellor said the investigation hearing is aimed to agree on the best approach to handle the case and prevent further complications.
In the letter dated June 16, with Ref: NASS/10HR/CT.135/UE/P&C/19/
The letter SaharaReporters obtained on Tuesday partly read: “The Committee received the attached petition signed by one Prof. Abubakar Garba Umar Kari, on behalf of a Group of Aggrieved Staff of University of Abuja on the dissolution of the University’s Governing Council, and your appointment as a new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, the removal of the substantive Vice-Chancellor and appointment of an acting Vice-Chancellor, by the Federal Government through the Hon. Minister of Education.
“The Group claimed that the actions were carried out without regard to the relevant provisions of the Universities Miscellaneous Act and the University of Abuja Act, respectively. The Group further alleged that you are operating alone and giving approvals even though, other members of the Council are yet to be inaugurated.
“In this regard, you are please requested to study the petition by the Group and respond accordingly. You will be expected to give in details, your involvement in the appointment of the acting vice-chancellor and acting Registrar, and whether or not, their appointments were in consonance with the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2003, No. 1 of 2007 and the University of Abuja Act.
“You are further required to attach the communications from the Senate of the University of Abuja recommending the appointment of the two principal officers on acting capacity pending the appointment of the substantive vice-chancellor and Registrar. You will also be expected to give in details, the alleged removal and appointment of new Directors and Heads of Departments, other Centres and Units by providing the tenure of each, and whether or not, such removal and appointments were in line with the provisions of the University of Abuja Act and Regulations.”
“Your perspectives which should be in 20 hard copies and a soft editable copy in a flash drive, to be submitted in Office Room 317, White House, House of Representatives, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, on or before Friday 20th June, 2025.
“In addition, you are please invited to come and make your presentation before the Committee on the above matter, scheduled as follows: Thursday 26th June, 2025.
Venue: Meeting Room 344, 3rd Floor, House of Representatives, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Time: 2:00pm.
“Meanwhile, you are by this letter, requested to halt the process of selection and appointment of new substantive Vice-Chancellor and Registrar until after the conclusion of this investigative hearing. The essence is to agree on the best approach to handle the case and foreclose further complications that might open new grounds for disharmony leading to the need for the suspension or removal of the vice-chancellor or even the possibility of instituting legal actions which will not augur well for the university.”
SaharaReporters reported that the Nigerian government had recently introduced new guidelines for appointing vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts in federal tertiary institutions. According to these guidelines, acting principal officers will no longer be eligible to apply for permanent positions while still in their temporary roles.
This policy aims to promote equity, transparency, and integrity in federal tertiary institutions.
