The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has summoned the Minister of Education, Dr Morufu Alausa, over allegations of arbitrary removal of vice chancellors and dissolution of governing councils at federal universities.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC–Jigawa), issued the invitation during a committee meeting in Abuja, citing multiple petitions received concerning the minister’s actions.
Fulata said the committee had been alerted to several incidents, including at Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He noted that the education sector was grappling with growing instability, as a result of what he described as “unilateral decisions on council dissolution and the appointment or removal of university leadership.”
“Such actions may cause unnecessary disharmony and threaten the stability of Nigeria’s higher education system,” he said.
He warned that bypassing due process violates the University Miscellaneous Provisions Amendment Act 2003, which outlines strict procedures for the removal of vice chancellors and dissolution of councils.
One of the petitions came from staff of the University of Abuja, led by Prof. Abubakar Kari. They protested the removal of Prof. Aisha Maikudi as vice chancellor and the dissolution of the university’s governing council on 6 February 2025.
Kari described the action as a breach of the law, noting that “only a duly constituted governing council can remove a vice chancellor.”
He said Air Vice Marshal Ismaila Kaita (rtd) was also removed as council chairman, with Senator Lanre Tejuoso installed as replacement and Prof. Patricia Lar named acting vice chancellor.
He called on the committee to help reinstate Maikudi and the previous council members, whom he said were elected representatives of the university’s Senate and Congregation.
In their separate testimonies, both Maikudi and Kaita said they had received no official letters informing them of their dismissal.
The committee is expected to announce a date for the minister’s appearance to address the allegations.
(NAN)