Reps Committee Orders Suspension of VC, Registrar Appointment at Yakubu Gowon University Amid Petition

The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has ordered an immediate suspension of the ongoing selection process for a new Vice-Chancellor and Registrar at Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), following a petition by aggrieved staff members.

The directive, issued to the Pro-Chancellor, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, came after 98 university staff petitioned the National Assembly, demanding the reinstatement of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, who was removed from office by President Bola Tinubu on February 6, 2025.

In the petition dated May 31, the staff alleged that Professor Maikudi’s removal and the dissolution of the university’s governing council violated the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1993, which mandates that only the Governing Council can remove a Vice-Chancellor on grounds such as gross misconduct.

The petitioners also accused Senator Tejuoso of operating without a fully inaugurated council, unilaterally approving decisions, and overseeing irregular appointments.

In a letter dated June 16 and signed by Committee Chairman Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata, the Pro-Chancellor was invited to appear before the committee on June 26, 2025, and was instructed to submit a detailed response to the allegations, including documents showing the legality of recent appointments.

“You are requested to halt the process of selection and appointment of new substantive Vice-Chancellor and Registrar until after the conclusion of this investigative hearing,” the letter stated.

The Committee said the action was necessary to avoid further complications and possible litigation that could destabilize the institution.

The Federal Government recently unveiled new rules for appointing heads of tertiary institutions. Under the revised policy, acting VCs, rectors, and provosts are barred from vying for substantive positions while still in acting capacity, to enhance transparency and fairness in recruitment.

Professor Maikudi’s removal had sparked controversy earlier in the year, with critics arguing it lacked due process. President Tinubu had appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting VC and named Senator Tejuoso as the new Pro-Chancellor.

The Committee’s intervention marks a critical moment in the university’s leadership crisis, with stakeholders urging adherence to statutory guidelines to restore normalcy and institutional integrity.