Strange and troubling events are currently unfolding at the University of Abuja, demanding the urgent attention of all stakeholders who value academic integrity, university autonomy, and due process. The unlawful removal of the 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with the abrupt dissolution of the university’s Governing Council, represents a blatant violation of the principles that govern Nigerian universities. This move, which defies extant laws and established procedures, has sent shockwaves through the university community and beyond, raising serious concerns about the erosion of institutional autonomy and the potential return to an era of sole administration—something the Nigerian university system has worked hard to overcome.
The appointment of Professor Patricia Manko Lar from the University of Jos as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja is not only irregular but also a clear breach of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act, commonly referred to as the Autonomy Act. According to Section 5 (12) of this Act, “There shall be no sole administration in any Nigerian University,” while Section 5 (13) explicitly states that in the event of a vacancy in the office of the Vice-Chancellor, the University Senate, through the Governing Council, is responsible for appointing an acting Vice-Chancellor. The government’s decision to bypass these legal provisions and install an outsider as acting VC raises troubling questions about its motives and the future of university governance in Nigeria.
Even more disturbing is the fact that some members of the university’s academic community, including my former teachers in the Faculty of Law, have chosen to celebrate this blatant violation of university autonomy. Their actions, rooted in envy, internal politics, and petty academic rivalry, are deeply disappointing. Rather than standing in solidarity to uphold the hard-fought gains of academic self-governance, they have openly endorsed the unlawful removal of their younger colleague simply because of personal grievances. Their collective decision to publish an advertorial in Vanguard on February 18, 2025, expressing gratitude to President Tinubu for this illegal intervention, is not just disgraceful but also an insult to the integrity of the university. It reduces the University of Abuja, once a respected citadel of learning, to a mere pawn in a political game.
The University of Abuja is now facing an existential crisis, one that threatens not just its autonomy but also its credibility as an institution of higher learning. If left unchecked, this reckless disregard for due process could set a dangerous precedent for other Nigerian universities, paving the way for further executive overreach and arbitrary dismissals. The labor of past and present academic leaders, including renowned scholars like Professor Attahiru Jega and other ASUU stalwarts, who fought to secure and sustain university autonomy, must not be in vain. The temporary satisfaction that some individuals may feel over Professor Maikudi’s removal will ultimately be overshadowed by the long-term damage that this interference will inflict on the university’s governance and academic freedom.
Furthermore, the manner in which the government has handled this issue raises serious questions about its understanding of university administration. The contradictory claims regarding Professor Lar’s appointment one statement attributing it to the President’s approval, another to the Minister of Education—highlight a lack of coherence and due diligence in decision-making. This inconsistency further exposes the arbitrary nature of the government’s actions, which appear to have been executed without proper legal and procedural backing. If indeed the decision was carefully thought through, why has Professor Maikudi not even received an official letter communicating her removal? Was this a case of presidential misjudgment, or was the administration misled by vested interests with hidden agendas?
The University of Abuja must not be allowed to descend into chaos and lawlessness due to the whims of a few individuals who prioritize personal vendettas over the institution’s collective progress. The Nigerian academic community, civil society, and all well-meaning stakeholders must rise against this brazen violation of the university’s independence. The reintroduction of sole administration by the Tinubu administration, disguised under another name, is an outright assault on the sanctity of university governance. Those celebrating this unlawful move will soon come to realize that they have aligned themselves with forces that seek to weaken the very institution they belong to.
It is truly disheartening to see some academics, whom many of us once respected, betraying the fundamental principles of fairness, academic freedom, and institutional integrity. Their shortsightedness in applauding an illegal takeover of the university will come back to haunt them, just as history has always been unkind to those who choose self-interest over justice. The University of Abuja deserves better than this shameful episode, and all people of goodwill must stand firm in defense of its autonomy, not just for today, but for the future of Nigerian higher education.
