Abuja, Nigeria – The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has invited the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, to address concerns regarding the dissolution of certain university councils across the country.

The resolution was reached during a committee meeting in Abuja, where lawmakers also summoned the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abdullahi Ribadu, along with the heads of other key government agencies in the education sector.

The meeting was convened in response to a petition against the suspended Vice-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Stella Lemchi. The petition was submitted by a group known as the Concerned Interviewed Professors for the Post of Vice-Chancellor, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, and signed by Kingsley Ikebudu and Joshua Umeifekwem.

The petitioners alleged that Ms. Lemchi was unqualified to act as vice-chancellor or to be appointed as the substantive vice-chancellor. They claimed she was never employed by Imo State University (IMSU) and falsely presented herself as a professor in a non-existent discipline at IMSU.

However, IMSU’s registrar, Julius Ozuagwu, refuted the allegations, stating that Ms. Lemchi was duly appointed as a reader (associate professor) at IMSU and later promoted to professor following proper procedures and NUC guidelines. He clarified that she was on secondment and permitted to complete her tenure as provost of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri.

Committee chairman, Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), ruled that all relevant stakeholders would be invited to respond to the petition. He further emphasized that discussions would also cover the frequent dissolution of university councils and the dismissal of vice-chancellors.

Mr. Fulata stressed the importance of job security for university personnel, including council members and vice-chancellors, adding that a broader conversation was needed to ensure stability in the education sector.