University of Abuja Pro-Chancellor Accuses Acting VC, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, of Misusing Position to Promote Unqualified Candidate for Bursar Role

The University of Abuja is embroiled in a fresh controversy as the institution’s Pro-Chancellor, Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Isma'ila Kaita (Rtd), has accused the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, of abusing her position in a bid to secure a permanent appointment as the university's Vice-Chancellor.

In a letter addressed to Nigeria's Minister of Education, obtained by SaharaReporters, Kaita responded to allegations made by Maikudi, who had earlier accused the university's governing council of irregularities and mismanagement in their recent administrative actions. Maikudi had written to the minister on November 6, 2024, claiming that the council's leadership, under Kaita, had taken actions detrimental to the governance and progress of the university.

One of the central points of contention is the appointment of a new Bursar for the university. Maikudi alleged that the process had been marred by “a serious breach of procedure and undue interference.” She accused Kaita of disregarding due process, which, according to her, compromised the legitimacy of the selection process.

However, Kaita strongly rejected these claims, emphasizing that the council had adhered to the university's established procedures. He clarified that the acting VC had actively participated in the process and had made a “request to appoint her preferred candidate,” who scored lower than an external candidate in the interview for the Bursar position. The external candidate, who scored 76.9%, was appointed, while Maikudi's candidate, who scored 67.7%, was not selected.

“The mandatory protocol I know is to appoint whoever performs best in the interview, regardless of whether they are internal or external candidates,” Kaita explained, adding that the Federal Character Commission had been involved and confirmed the transparency of the process.

Further fueling the controversy, Kaita accused Maikudi of a conflict of interest, given her position as both Acting Vice-Chancellor and an applicant for the permanent VC role. Kaita pointed out that Maikudi’s participation in discussions about the VC advertisement and her subsequent application for the role raised serious concerns about her objectivity and fairness in decision-making.

In his response, Kaita also addressed the issue of Maikudi's attempt to appoint an Acting Registrar. He noted that the Acting VC had acted unilaterally in appointing a candidate, bypassing seniority rules and failing to consult the council. According to Kaita, the appointment of Mrs. Islamiyat Abdulrahim, who had only become a Deputy Registrar in 2017, was controversial because there were 10 other senior Deputy Registrars who were overlooked. Kaita described the acting VC's actions as a violation of established procedures, leading to an emergency meeting of the council to review the decision.

Kaita also questioned why Maikudi did not address her concerns directly with him, the Pro-Chancellor, or through the council, before taking her grievances to the Minister of Education. He described her actions as a challenge to the authority of the Governing Council and a breach of administrative procedure.

“As the Pro-Chancellor, I am at a loss as to why the Acting Vice-Chancellor chose to bypass the council and seek intervention from the Minister,” Kaita said, concluding that Maikudi’s behavior reflected a lack of respect for the governing body and the university’s autonomy.

As the situation unfolds, the University of Abuja is facing growing tensions within its leadership. The Ministry of Education is expected to review the matter, which has significant implications for the future governance of the institution.