Over 50 professors and senior lecturers from the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Wednesday, demanding the dissolution of the university’s Governing Council. The academics accused the council of manipulating the selection process to appoint Prof. Aisha Maikudi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor without due process. The protest aims to compel the Education Minister to nullify the appointment and ensure a fair selection process.

The protest comes after 43 Senate members of the university sent a letter to the Minister of Education on December 27, expressing a vote of no confidence in the Governing Council. They alleged gross irregularities and disregard for laid-down procedures in the VC selection process, which they claimed undermined the university’s credibility. The Senate members also highlighted previous instances of alleged misconduct, including the use of vigilantes to disrupt a Senate meeting in December.

The protesters criticized the Minister for his delayed intervention in the UniAbuja matter, contrasting it with his swift actions in addressing similar issues at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. They announced plans to hold a press conference to further condemn the situation and called for immediate dissolution of the Governing Council to restore fairness and integrity in the appointment process.