Abuja, Nigeria – June 25, 2025
The House of Representatives has directed the immediate suspension of the appointment process for a new Vice-Chancellor and Registrar at the University of Abuja, pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.
This directive was issued by the House Committee on University Education following a formal petition submitted by 98 staff members of the university. The petitioners are demanding the reinstatement of Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi, who was earlier removed from office as Acting Vice-Chancellor.
According to the petition, the removal of Prof. Maikudi was allegedly carried out in violation of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. The staff also questioned the legality of dissolving the University’s Governing Council, describing the action as unconstitutional and unjust.
In response, the House Committee has summoned the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, to appear before it on Wednesday, June 26, 2025. The Committee is seeking clarification on the decision to remove Prof. Maikudi and the subsequent move to appoint new principal officers.
A letter dated June 16, 2025, from the Committee, instructed the university to suspend all appointment proceedings until the investigation is concluded.
The lawmakers emphasized that the integrity and legality of appointment processes in federal universities must be upheld to preserve the credibility of academic institutions in Nigeria.
Stakeholders have expressed concern over recent leadership crises within the university and welcomed the intervention by the National Assembly as a step toward transparency and due process.
