Lawmakers at the House of Representatives
House of Representatives Committee on University Education has invited Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Alausa, to address allegations of indiscriminate sacking of university vice chancellors and dissolution of governing councils.
Committee Chairman Rep. Abubakar Fulata announced the invitation, citing petitions against the minister, which highlighted concerns over the stability of the education sector.
Fulata expressed deep concern over the unstable leadership in the education sector, attributing it to unilateral decisions on council dissolution and VC removals.
He noted that such uncertainties posed a great danger to the sector, potentially ruining the tenure and stability of the education system and contravening relevant Acts and provisions of the law.
The affected universities include Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), among others.
Prof. Abubakar Kari, representing aggrieved staffers of the University of Abuja, decried the sacking of Prof. Aisha Maikudi as VC and the dissolution of the council on February 6, 2025, describing it as a surprise to them.
Kari argued that the act contravened the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions Amendment Act 2003, which clearly states the procedure for removing a vice chancellor.
He emphasized that only the governing council of a university has the power to remove a VC. Kari appealed to the legislators to intervene and immediately restore Maikudi to her position as well as members of the council to serve their terms as elected representatives of the University Senate and Congregation.
In their separate presentations, Maikudi and Air Vice Marshal Ismaila Kaita (rtd), the disengaged chairman of the University of Abuja’s governing council, told the committee that they had not received any letter regarding their disengagement.
The committee aims to address these issues and ensure stability in Nigeria’s education system.
