Tag: UNIABUJA

The Governing Council of the University of Abuja under the chairmanship of Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (Rtd) has approved the appointment of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as the seventh substantive vice-chancellor of the university.

A statement on Tuesday by the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, UofA, Dr Habib Yakoob said that Maikudi’s appointment was announced during the 77th Extraordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday 31st December 2024.

According to the statement, the appointment takes effect from January I, 2025, for a non-renewable tenure of five years. 

It said that Maikudi emerged as the best among 10 shortlisted candidates and interviewed by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the University, in line with the extant regulations governing the process.

The statement reads: “Prior to her appointment as the substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor Maikudi served in an acting capacity from 5th July 2024. 

“During the period, she worked closely with the Governing Council to stabilise the University through a challenging crisis, demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment.

“Born on 31st January 1983 in Katsina State, Professor Maikudi is a distinguished scholar and professor of International Law at the University of Abuja.

“Her educational journey began at Sacred Heart School, Kaduna, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1993. She proceeded to Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, earning her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 1999.

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“Maikudi’s academic excellence took her to the University of Reading, where she earned an LLB in 2004. She further specialised in Public International Law, obtaining an LLM from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2005. After completing her legal education at the Nigerian Law School (2006–2007), she pursued and had a PhD in International Law from the University of Abuja in 2015.

“She joined the University of Abuja as a Lecturer II on 4th September 2008, and rose through the ranks to become a professor in 2021. 

“Prof Maikudi broke barriers as the first female Head of Department in 2013, the first female Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law in 2018, and the pioneer Director of the University of Abuja International Centre in 2019. She also served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), where she was instrumental in enhancing academic standards and promoting a culture of excellence at the University.

“An innovator in her field, she introduced the ‘United Nations Law’ course at the University of Abuja in 2019, backed by extensive research and numerous publications in academic journals and book chapters. She is also highly experienced in supervising theses and dissertations, contributing to the growth of legal scholarship.

“Maikudi has represented her university and country at numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and training sessions across the UK, US, South Africa, Germany, Italy, China, Ghana, and Egypt. She has presented papers at many of these events, further solidifying her global reputation as an academic leader.

“The new Vice-Chancellor is an active member of several professional organisations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Law Teachers Association (NLTA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and Nigerian Society of International Law.

“Her tenure promises a new era of progress and transformation for the University of Abuja.”

• Says Acting VC victim of gang up

A coalition of 25 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on President Bola Tinubu through the Minister of Education to intervene in the ongoing controversy surrounding the selection of a Vice – Chancellor for the University of Abuja (UniAbuja).

The coalition under the aegis of Civil Society Coalition for Educational Development said this during the presentation of their report by one of its members, Dr. Wisdom Chinedu at the main gate of the University on Friday in Abuja.

It criticised recent protests by some professors at the university, calling their actions as “unnecessary and counterproductive.”

Chinedu, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, said the protest was part of a deliberate effort to undermine the reputation of the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Aisha Maikudi.

“We demand that President Bola Tinubu, through the Honourable Minister of Education, wade into the ensuing crisis and give needed protection for the acting Vice Chancellor who is obviously a victim of ethnic gang-up, political orchestration, and desperate power mongers in the University of Abuja. This will prevent any attempts to ridicule his efforts in promoting youth and women’s leadership,” the coalition said.

Read Also: UniAbuja promotes 33 lecturers to rank of professor

It said: “We wish to begin by expressing unequivocally, our frustration and disappointment over the recent protest by some professors from University of Abuja over the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor in the institution.

“It is an absurdity and a direct attack on due process, betrayal of their experience, and direct assault on the globally demanded agenda to have more women and youths in leadership.

“We observed with incontrovertible evidence that the entire protest is about an orchestrated plan to discredit Prof. Aisha Maikudi, the acting Vice Chancellor who had previously served as Deputy Vice Chancellor without any record of failure or non-qualification. The desperation to pull her down because she is a woman, a youth, and a northerner is antithetical to the development of education in Nigeria, especially at a time when global attention is on harnessing the numerous potentials of young people, especially women, to boost growth.

The Governing Council of the University of Abuja has approved the promotion of 154 members of staff to various ranks.

The university noted that among the academic staff, 19 were elevated to the rank of professor, 14 to associate professor, 20 to senior lecturer, six to lecturer I, and one to lecturer II.

It said 94 non-teaching staff members were promoted across various ranks, including two to deputy director, six to assistant director, and others to different grades.

Read Also: UniAbuja promotes 33 lecturers to rank of professor

In a statement signed by the Acting Director of Public Affairs of the University, Habib Yakoob, the Acting Registrar, Islamiyat Abdulrahim, said the promotions were approved during the Council’s 98th Regular Meeting held on December 10, 11, 12 and 14.

According to the statement, the breakdown of promotions includes specialties such as Automobile Engineering, Energy Engineering, Library Management, International Economic Law, Environmental and Development Law, Political Sociology, Media and Conflict Studies, Cardiology, Educational Administration and Planning, Medical Microbiology, Banking Law and Policy, Science Education, Curriculum Studies, English Language Education, Social Studies Education, Sociology of Dance, and Applied Geophysics.

The Governing Council of the University of Abuja has approved the promotion of 154 members of staff to various ranks.

The university noted that among the academic staff, 19 were elevated to the rank of professor, 14 to associate professor, 20 to senior lecturer, six to lecturer I, and one to lecturer 11.

It said 94 non-teaching staff were promoted across various ranks, including two to deputy director, six to assistant director, and others to different grades.

In a statement signed by the Acting Director of Public Affairs of the University, Habib Yakoob, the Acting Registrar, Islamiyat Abdulrahim said that the promotions were approved during the Council’s 98th Regular Meeting held on December 10, 11, 12 and 14.

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According to the statement, the breakdown of promotions includes specialties such as automobile engineering, energy engineering, library management, international economic law, environmental and development law, political sociology, media and conflict studies, cardiology, educational administration and planning, medical microbiology, banking law and policy, science education, curriculum studies, English language education, social studies education, sociology of dance, and applied geophysics.

Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, commended the staff’s dedication, hard work and discipline, adding that the university was committed to ensuring timely promotions for all deserving staff, with the support of the Governing Council.

She said: “These promotions reflect the University of Abuja’s commitment to fostering excellence, recognising merit, and encouraging growth among its staff. I, therefore, congratulate all the promoted individuals and urge them to continue contributing to the University’s vision of academic and professional distinction and excellence.

“All outstanding backlogs of promotion cases have been meticulously reviewed and resolved, ensuring fairness and recognition for deserving staff. The remaining cases are now awaiting external assessment reports, reflecting the University’s commitment to transparency, meritocracy and timely career progression for its workforce.”

The University of Abuja has assured that the process to select a new Vice-Chancellor will be transparent. 

The university gave the assurance in a statement issued by Dr Habib Yakoob Acting Director, Information and University Relations of the University. 

The process to select a new vice-chancellor has generated a lot of controversy with many alleging that there were plans to imposed the present Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi.

“The University remains confident in the Council’s commitment to conducting a transparent, fair, and merit-based selection process in strict adherence to the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and other relevant statutes. 

Read Also: ‘Don’t appoint unqualified candidate as UNIABUJA VC’

“The Council has meticulously structured the process to ensure the emergence of the most competent and visionary leader to steer the institution toward greater achievements,” the statement said. 

The statement added: “To begin with, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, like all other candidates who have applied for the position of Vice-Chancellor, is fully qualified and competent to assume the role. Over the past six months, she has ably discharged her responsibilities as Acting Vice-Chancellor. 

“In fact, her remarkable overall accomplishment in the five months she has held forte has continued to attract widespread applause and commendation within the University and beyond. 

“Efforts to unjustly malign her candidacy are baseless, unwarranted, and appear calculated to create unnecessary tension and distract the University Council from its mandate.

“As the institution continues to uphold its mission of providing quality education and fostering innovation, it calls on all stakeholders to allow the selection process to proceed without undue interference or politicisation. The process will be concluded with the utmost integrity and in the best interests of the University.”

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja chapter, has announced the suspension of its 82-day strike with immediate effect.

Chairperson of ASUU, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, announced the suspension of the strike at a news briefing in Abuja on Monday, short after the congress held by the union.

Ugoh hinged the suspension of the strike on the union’s engagement with the institution’s new Governing Council, which promised to review all their demands and address them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ASUU had, on May 2, embarked on the indefinite strike to protest violation of its established laws, including appointments and promotions of members of staff, in the absence of a governing council.

Other issues, according to the union, are: the purported illegal advertorial for the position of vice-chancellor by the then Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Alla-led administration, and recruitments without due process.

Ugoh said that the council had met with the union and agreed to cancel the advert and republish a new one, following due process.

He said that the council also agreed to review the process of employment, which the union was against, and review the issue of promotion, especially the 2022/2023 exercise.

“Within these 82 days, we have been engaging with the former vice-chancellor but he did not shift ground.

“He refused to comply with the rules; he refused to comply with the act establishing the university and follow due process.

“After all the procedures failed, the union embarked on a comprehensive and indefinite strike,” he said.

Ugoh said that since the inauguration of the council, the union had been engaging the council and the university management.

He said that the council met with ASUU on July 18 and communicated to it in writing on the issues bordering on the strike.

“The council wrote the union and agreed to cancel the advert that was placed before now and re-advertise for the position of the vice-chancellor and that was actually the demand of the union.

“The council also agreed with the union to review the process of recruitment that was done without due process.

“According to the act, the process of employment of staff in the university is clear: there must be an advert in the national daily.

“This process was not followed, but the council has agreed to review it and get back to the union,” he stated.

Ugoh said that the council also agreed to review the promotion exercise, especially the 2022/2023 exercise.

He added that the new council had also directed that the election into the positions of deans of faculties and provost of college of health sciences be conducted.

Read Also: UniAbuja: ASUU seeks quick resolution of ongoing strike

“As for the position of director of the micro-finance bank, the acting vice-chancellor, through the secretary to the bank, has communicated with us that the union should take its position in the board of directors.

“So with these, and also in honour of the new council and the acting vice-chancellor, the union has reviewed the submissions of the council and we just finished from the congress.

“The congress unanimously resolved to suspend the strike so that the university administration will be able to look at the issues,” he said.

(NAN)

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by members of the 9th Governing Council of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) challenging the council’s dissolution.

In a judgment on Tuesday, July 9, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the suit filed by the affected UniAbuja Governing Council members was instituted outside the three months allowed for the challenge of decisions by public officers under the Public Officers’ Protection Act (POPA) 2004.

The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/683/2024 filed by member of the dissolved UniAbuja Governing Council led by Professor Saint Gbilekaa.

Listed with Prof Gbilekaa as plaintiffs were: Edmund Nwanna, Sunday Ejaro, Kasim Umar, Wesley Nafarda (all Professors) and Dr. Uju Patrick.

The defendants were the Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The plaintiffs had, among others faulted the dissolution of the 9th UniAbuja Governing Council which, they claimed was inaugurated on July 15,2021 for a four-year tenure, which was to lapse on July 15, 2025.

They stated that they were surprised when, on July 22, 2023, the NUC, allegedly acting on the directive of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, issued a notice for the dissolution of the boards of all Fed Govt’s agencies and parastatals, including the Governing Council of federal universities.

The plaintiffs argued that the decision of the Vice Chancellor of UniAbuja to give effect to the NUC notice issued pursuant to the directive of the President, and subsequently called for fresh election to replace them was unlawful.

Justice Ekwo, in his judgment on Tuesday, upheld the objection raised by the defendant, to the effect that the suit was statute barred.

The judge noted that, while the cause of action (the decision complained about) arose on June 22, 2023, the plaintiffs instituted their case on May 22, 2024, outside the three months allowed under the POPA 2004.

He faulted the contention by plaintiffs’ lawyer, Maxwell Opara that they defendants ought to prove that the plaintiffs were out of time by producing evidence of the presidential directive for the dissolution of the boards of federal agencies , including universities’ Governing Councils.

Justice Ekwo held: “It is the case of the plaintiffs that the Governing Council (of UniAbuja) was dissolved on 22nd June 2023 and, by the originating process before me, this case was commenced on 22nd May, 2024. 

“I find that the cause of action in this case accrued on 22nd June 2023 when the Governing Council of the University of Abuja was dissolved.

“This means that this action was not commenced within three months stipulated by law. 

“It my opinion that this action was taken after the period allowed by the POPA 2004 had lapsed.

“As it is , I find that the right of action of the plaintiffs, by not bringing this action within the time prescribed, has been extinguished by virtue of the statute bar in Section 2 (a) of the Public Officers’ Protection Act (POPA) 2004. I so hold.

Read Also: UniAbuja: ASUU seeks quick resolution of ongoing strike

“The proper order to make where a matter has been found to be statute barred has been established in a plethora of authorities.

“Having found that upon the Governing Council being dissolved on 22nd  June 2023, which is the date the cause of action accrued for the plaintiffs and, this case was commenced on 22nd May, 2024 outside the period prescribed by the POPA 2004, this matter is statute barred, and must end at this point, and it ought to be dismissed. 

“I thereby make an Order dismissing this suit for being statute barred. This is the order of this court,” Justice Ekwo said.