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Tag: UNIABUJA

  • Finally, UniAbuja appoints 7th substantive VC

    Finally, UniAbuja appoints 7th substantive VC

    The Governing Council of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), chaired by Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Kaita (Rtd), has approved the appointment of Prof. Aisha Maikudi as the 7th substantive Vice Chancellor of the university.

    The Acting Director, Information and University Relations, UniAbuja, Dr Habib Yakoob, made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Yakoob said that the appointment was announced during the 77th Extraordinary meeting of the council on Dec. 31.

    He said that the appointment takes effect from Jan. 1, 2025, adding that it was for a non renewable tenure of five years.

    The university spokesperson said that Maikudi emerged the best among the 10 shortlisted candidates and interviewed by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the university, in line with the extant regulations governing the process.

    The spokesperson said that prior to Maikudi’s appointment as the substantive VC, she served in an acting capacity from July 5 to date.

    He said that during the period Maikudi worked closely with the Governing Council to stabilise the university through a challenging crisis, demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment.

    He said Maikudi who was born on Jan. 31, 1983 was a distinguished scholar and professor of International Law at the University of Abuja.

    He said her educational journey began at Sacred Heart School, Kaduna, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1993.

    He said she proceeded to Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, where she earned her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 1999.

    Maikudi’s academic excellence took her to the University of Reading, where she earned an LLB in 2004.

    She further specialised in Public International Law, obtaining an LLM from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2005.

    Maikudi, after completing her legal education at the Nigerian Law School from 2006 to 2007, pursued and had a PhD in International Law from the University of Abuja in 2015.

    The new vice chancellor however, joined the University of Abuja as a Lecturer II on Sept. 4, 2008 and rose through the ranks to become a professor in 2021.

    He said Maikudi broke barriers as the first female Head of Department in 2013, the first female Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law in 2018, and the pioneer Director of the University of Abuja International Centre in 2019.

    She also served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), where she was instrumental in enhancing academic standards and promoting a culture of excellence at the University.

    He said as an innovator in her field, she introduced the ‘United Nations Law’ course at the University of Abuja in 2019, backed by extensive research and numerous publications in academic journals and book chapters.

    “She is also highly experienced in supervising theses and dissertations, contributing to the growth of legal scholarship.

    “Maikudi has represented her university and country at numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and training sessions across the UK, US, South Africa, Germany, Italy, China, Ghana, and Egypt.

    She has presented papers at many of these events, further solidifying her global reputation as an academic leader.

    The new Vice-Chancellor is an active member of several professional organisations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Law Teachers Association (NLTA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and Nigerian Society of International Law.

    He said that her tenure promised a new era of progress and transformation for the University of Abuja.

  • UniAbuja council approves promotion of 154 staff members

    UniAbuja council approves promotion of 154 staff members

    The Governing Council of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), chaired by Air Vice Marshal Saddiq Kaita (Rtd), has approved the promotion of 154 members of staff to various ranks.

    The Acting Director, Information and University Relations, UniAbuja, Dr Habib Yakoob, made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    The university spokesperson said the promotions were approved during the council’s 98th regular meeting held in Dec. 10th, 11th 12th and 14th.

    Yakoob explained that among the academic staff, 19 were promoted to the rank of professors, 14 to associate professor, 20 to senior lecturer, six to lecturer 1 and one to lecturer II.

    He also said that 94 non-teaching staff were promoted across various ranks, two to deputy director, six to assistant director, and others to different grades.

    He gave the breakdown of the promotions to include; specialties such as automobile engineering, energy engineering, library management, international economic law, environmental and development law, political sociology, media and conflict studies.

    Also, cardiology, educational administration and planning, medical microbiology, banking law and policy, science education, curriculum studies, English language education, social studies education, sociology of dance, and applied geophysics.

    According to the statement, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, in her congratulatory message to the promoted staff, commended them for their dedication, hardwork and discipline.

    Maikudi said that the university was committed to ensuring timely promotions for all deserving staff, with the support of the Governing Council.

    “These promotions reflect the University of Abuja’s commitment to fostering excellence, recognising merit, and encouraging growth among its staff.

    “I, therefore, congratulate all the promoted individuals and urge them to continue contributing to the university’s vision of academic and professional distinction and excellence.

    “All outstanding backlogs of promotion cases have been meticulously reviewed and resolved, ensuring fairness and recognition for deserving staff.

    “The remaining cases are now awaiting external assessment reports, reflecting the university’s commitment to transparency, meritocracy, and timely career progression for its workforce,” she said.

  • UniAbuja ASUU suspends 82-day strike

    UniAbuja ASUU suspends 82-day strike

    Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja chapter, has announced the suspension of its 82-day strike with immediate effect.

    Chairperson of ASUU, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, announced the suspension of the strike at a news briefing in Abuja on Monday, short after the congress held by the union.

    Ugoh hinged the suspension of the strike on the union’s engagement with the institution’s new Governing Council, which promised to review all their demands and address them.

    NAN reports that ASUU had, on May 2, embarked on the indefinite strike to protest violation of its established laws, including appointments and promotions of members of staff, in the absence of a governing council.

    Other issues, according to the union, are: the purported illegal advertorial for the position of vice-chancellor by the then Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Alla-led administration, and recruitments without due process.

    Ugoh said that the council had met with the union and agreed to cancel the advert and republish a new one, following due process.

    He said that the council also agreed to review the process of employment, which the union was against, and review the issue of promotion, especially the 2022/2023 exercise.

    “Within these 82 days, we have been engaging with the former vice-chancellor but he did not shift ground.

    “He refused to comply with the rules; he refused to comply with the act establishing the university and follow due process.

    “After all the procedures failed, the union embarked on a comprehensive and indefinite strike,” he said.

    Ugoh said that since the inauguration of the council, the union had been engaging the council and the university management.

    He said that the council met with ASUU on July 18 and communicated to it in writing on the issues bordering on the strike.

    “The council wrote the union and agreed to cancel the advert that was placed before now and re-advertise for the position of the vice-chancellor and that was actually the demand of the union.

    “The council also agreed with the union to review the process of recruitment that was done without due process.

    “According to the act, the process of employment of staff in the university is clear: there must be an advert in the national daily.

    “This process was not followed, but the council has agreed to review it and get back to the union,” he stated.

    Ugoh said that the council also agreed to review the promotion exercise, especially the 2022/2023 exercise.

    He added that the new council had also directed that the election into the positions of deans of faculties and provost of college of health sciences be conducted.

    “As for the position of director of the micro-finance bank, the acting vice-chancellor, through the secretary to the bank, has communicated with us that the union should take its position in the board of directors.

    “So with these, and also in honour of the new council and the acting vice-chancellor, the union has reviewed the submissions of the council and we just finished from the congress.

    “The congress unanimously resolved to suspend the strike so that the university administration will be able to look at the issues,” he said.

  • Reps C’ttee visits UniAbuja, seeks end to ASUU strike

    Reps C’ttee visits UniAbuja, seeks end to ASUU strike

    The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has visited the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), urging the institution’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its ongoing strike.

    The Chairman of the committee, Abubakar Fulata, in an interview with newsmen shortly after Friday’s visit in Abuja said the appeal became necessary to prevent destabilising the academic calendar.

    The lawmaker said the visit aligned with the constitutional provisions empowering legislators to carry out oversight functions over Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure compliance with the Appropriation Act.

    He called on the institution’s management to judiciously utilise what was provided in line with the 2024 Appropriation Act.

    He also advised them to seek additional ways to fund the university instead of relying almost absolutely on the government.

    In his remarks, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, commended the lawmakers for their visit and for intervening in the dispute between the school management and ASUU.

    He lauded the committee for its efforts that resulted in the Federal Government removing universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    “The removal of universities from IPPIS helped us from going to the Head of Service of the Federation and several MDAs before carrying out our functions like salary payment, appointments, and promotion among others,” he said.

  • Council crisis: Court summons UniAbuja VC

    Council crisis: Court summons UniAbuja VC

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Vice Chancellor (VC) of University of Abuja, Prof. Rasheed Na’Allah, to appear before it on June 13 to show cause why the planned inauguration of the newly elected Internal Governing Council Members of the institution should not be stopped.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order, in a ruling, shortly after the plaintiffs’ counsel, Maxwell Opara, moved an ex-parte motion to the effect.

    The plaintiffs; Prof. Saint Gbilekaa, Prof. Edmund Nwanna, Prof. Sunday Ejaro, Prof. Kasim Umar, Prof. Wesley Nafarnda and Dr Uju Patrick, had filed the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/683/2024.

    The six aggrieved senior lecturers had sued the VC; President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and National Universities Commission (NUC) as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    In the motion dated and filed June 5 through their lawyer, Opara, they sought seven reliefs, which include an order of interim injunction directing all parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    They also sought an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant (VC) and others from conducting any inauguration of the newly elected internal council members of the university pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    They equally sought an interim injunction restraining the 2nd to 4th defendants from recognising, accepting or otherwise having anything to do with any person or persons purportedly elected as Internal Council Members of the university’s Governing Council by Na’Allah pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The plaintiffs sought an interim injunction stopping any person or group of persons newly elected as members of Internal Governing Council by the VC in an election conducted on May 28 from parading themselves as of the council pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    They prayed the court to make an interim order restraining Na’Allah from setting up any administrative panel of inquiry or disciplinary committee for the purpose of sanctioning, discipline or questioning the six of them who are the substantive parties in this suit, as any of such as will be prejudicial to the unfettered powers of the honourable court.

    Giving six grounds why the motion should be granted, they argued that the case was duly filed on May 22 and copies of all the processes duly served on Na’Allah by the bailiff

    They said despite the pendency of the suit in court, Na’Allah conducted “the purported election of new Governing Council on May 28, 2024.”

    “The inauguration of the Council of Federal Universities may take place at any moment and presenting the purportedly elected persons as internal Council members of the University of Abuja would have the effect of destroying the res in this case.

    “That the 1st defendant/respondent is intimidating the claimants for approaching court,” they said, among others.

    Justice Ekwo then ordered the plaintiffs to put the defendants on notice of the motion ex-parte within three days of the order.

    “Defendants/Respondents to show cause on the next date of hearing the prayers of the plaintiffs/applicants on the motion ex-parte ought not be granted,” he said.

    The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until June 13 for defendants to show cause.

    NAN

  • UniAbuja: ASUU says strike continues

    UniAbuja: ASUU says strike continues

    The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), University of Abuja (UniAbuja), says the union will not call off the strike until all issues are addressed.

    The branch Chairman, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja that the members were not working.

    “Those against the strike may possibly be beneficiaries of what the union is fighting against. Any member found breaking the strike will be subjected to disciplinary procedure.”

    According to him, 90 to 95 per cent of lecturers are on strike.

    UniAbuja, ASUU branch had on May 2 declared an indefinite strike to draw attention of the school management to issues bordering the union.

    One of the issues listed by the union was the University’s refusal to conduct elections for the office of the Deans of Faculties and Provost, College of Health Sciences.

    The Union also accused the University of carrying out promotion of some members of staff without following due process.

    Other reasons for the strike, according to the union, include: “Advertorial for the vacancy of the post of Vice Chancellor without following due process, among others.’’

    The chairman said that ASUU as a body in the university had withdrew the services of their members in the university.

    “ASUU do not lock university, what ASUU did was to withdraw the services our members render to the university.

    ”What we are saying is that our members are not working,” he said.

    On the issue of some lecturers indicating interest to lecture, he said that even in a national strike some would still want to go against the action.

    However, Dr Habib Yakoob, the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, said the management was not aware of any strike.

    Yakoob said that many lecturers have indicated interest to lecture, adding that students were also prepared to receive lectures.

    A correspondent, who was at the university’s permanent site reports that students were seen on campus to officially resume for their second semester academic activities.

    At the time of the visit, no academic activities was seen going on in the lecture halls.

    A Student, Adenike Owolabi, said students were just resuming for their second semester and hopefully lectures would commence soon.

    Owolabi, who said the students were not ready for any strike, added that they have wasted so much time as a result of incessant strike.

    She, therefore, called on the school management to resolve whatever the problem was to avoid the school being shut down.

  • Reps call for truce over UniAbuja face-off

    Reps call for truce over UniAbuja face-off

    The House of Representatives, has called for a truce between the Academic Staff Union (ASUU) and the management of the University of Abuja, over the current strike.

    Rep. Abubakar Fulata, the Chairman, House Committee on University Education, said this when he received the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah and a team of ASUU members from the institution at the National Assembly on Tuesday in Abuja.

    “The need to ensure non-disruption of academic activities led to the intervention, which made the Federal Government to remove universities from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

    “When we came on board, we promised that there should be no disruption of academic activities in Nigerian universities. We observed that university managements were in complex condition under IPPIS.

    “We made the appeal, and President Bola Tinubu listened to us and removed universities and other tertiary institutions from IPPIS,” he said.
    Fulata appealed to ASUU to suspend the indefinite strike that began on May 2.

    He promised that the National Assembly would soon come up with a bill that would address the problem regarding the appointment of a VC and the running of universities in the absence of a council.

    He appealed to ASUU to suspend the strike while further consultations were ongoing to finally resolve the impasse

    Ealier, Dr Sylvanus Ugo, the Chairman of the university’s chapter of ASUU, said the meeting was to find an amicable solution to the problems on the ground.
    Ugod said the issues in contention that resulted in the indefinite strike included the illegal advertisement for the vacancy of the post of Vice-Chancellor.

    He said that it was the governing council that was responsible for the appointment of a new VC, but in the absence of the council, the Senate of the university could elect an acting VC.

    Other issues he raised included the illegal appointment of deans, recruitment of staff without due process, illegal promotion, and the removal of ASUU from the University’s Micro Finance Bank in spite of its numerous investments.

    Na’Allah, in his response, said the 6th Vice-Chancellor of the University was expected to retire from service in June.

    He said the Minister of Education gave the permission to place advertisement in respect of the vacancy for the post of VC of the University.

    Na’Allah said that all appointments, recruitments, and promotions carried out were in consonance with the University Act.

  • UniAbuja: CONUA states position on ASUU strike

    UniAbuja: CONUA states position on ASUU strike

    The Congress of University Academics (CONUA), University of Abuja Chapter has dissociated itself from the ongoing strike  by the university branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The Chairman, CONUA, University of Abuja Chapter, Prof. Abdul Buba, said this when the group paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah in Abuja on Friday.

    Buba said the University system could not be grounded because it had no Governing Council, a decision that informed the industrial actions.

    “We believe in stable academic calendar and that’s why we believe that there are other ways of handling labour issues rather than strike actions.

    “CONUA addresses issues and not personalities. We also respect opinions of our members and not a predetermined objective of the leadership.

    ”We address issues without sentiments and meet with the right stakeholders in the pursue of our objectives.

    “We are conscious of the negative effects of strikes, and we believe in deploying relevant strategies that will yield positive results in modern age of innovation,” he said.

    He added that CONUA would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to pursue legitimate welfare for its members without dabbling with issues not of the concern to its members.

    “The ongoing strike in place in the university, CONUA is not part of it because we believe in academic and service delivery.

    “All these five points for the strike are baseless. Let me start with the issue of advertorial for the position of vice chancellor, initially if it were that the council is in place everything about employment both the employees and the principal officers start and end with the university governing council.

    “But in the absence of the university governing council, the law has no provision for the vice chancellor to appoint any successor so it is the responsibility of the government to do that. So, there is no way the VC can be accused.

    “This is because even the advertorial, if you watch and other advertorial that were placed by other universities, it was mentioning the ministry representing the government so this is baseless,” he said.

    Also, the CONUA Secretary, Prof. Issa Abdulraheem, urged the union to focus on the welfare of its members which was the sole role of establishing a union.

    “The union is established to cater for the welfare of its members, all the issues raised by the other union are baseless and have nothing to do with the staff welfare.

    “And so we believe that we have ways of handling issues with stakeholders without sentiments of personalising issues. All the points raised by the other unions are not in the interest of its members,”he said.

    On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah,  appreciated CONUA for its stance in not joining the strike, hoping that academic programme by ASUU would commence soon.

    The University of Abuja ASUU branch had embarked on a total and indefinite strike on May 2 over alleged university’s refusal to conduct elections for the office of the Dean’s of faculties and Provost College of Health Sciences.

    The Union also accused the university of carrying out promotion of some staffers without following due process.

    Other reasons for the strike, according to the Union include, “Advertorial of the vacancy of the post of the Vice Chancellor without following due process, among others.

  • UniAbuja ASUU Strike: CONUA dissociates self, says action baseless

    UniAbuja ASUU Strike: CONUA dissociates self, says action baseless

    The Congress of University Academics (CONUA), University of Abuja Chapter has dissociated itself from the ongoing strike  by the university branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The Chairman, CONUA, University of Abuja Chapter, Prof. Abdul Buba, said this when the group paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah in Abuja on Friday.

    Buba said the University system could not be grounded because it had no Governing Council, a decision that informed the industrial actions.

    “We believe in stable academic calendar and that’s why we believe that there are other ways of handling labour issues rather than strike actions.

    “CONUA addresses issues and not personalities. We also respect opinions of our members and not a predetermined objective of the leadership.

    ”We address issues without sentiments and meet with the right stakeholders in the pursue of our objectives.

    “We are conscious of the negative effects of strikes, and we believe in deploying relevant strategies that will yield positive results in modern age of innovation,” he said.

    He added that CONUA would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to pursue legitimate welfare for its members without dabbling with issues not of the concern to its members.

    “The ongoing strike in place in the university, CONUA is not part of it because we believe in academic and service delivery.

    “All these five points for the strike are baseless.

    “Let me start with the issue of advertorial for the position of vice chancellor, initially if it were that the council is in place everything about employment both the employees and the principal officers start and end with the university governing council.

    “But in the absence of the university governing council, the law has no provision for the vice chancellor to appoint any successor so it is the responsibility of the government to do that. So, there is no way the VC can be accused.

    “This is because even the advertorial, if you watch and other advertorial that were placed by other universities, it was mentioning the ministry representing the government so this is baseless,” he said.

    Also, the CONUA Secretary, Prof. Issa Abdulraheem, urged the union to focus on the welfare of its members which was the sole role of establishing a union.

    “The union is established to cater for the welfare of its members, all the issues raised by the other union are baseless and have nothing to do with the staff welfare.

    “And so we believe that we have ways of handling issues with stakeholders without sentiments of personalising issues. All the points raised by the other unions are not in the interest of its members,”he said.

    On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah,  appreciated CONUA for its stance in not joining the strike, hoping that academic programme by ASUU would commence soon.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the University of Abuja ASUU branch had embarked on a total and indefinite strike on May 2 over alleged university’s refusal to conduct elections for the office of the Dean’s of faculties and Provost College of Health Sciences.

    The Union also accused the university of carrying out promotion of some staffers without following due process.

    Other reasons for the strike, according to the Union include, “Advertorial of the vacancy of the post of the Vice Chancellor without following due process, among others.

  • UniAbuja breaks silence over ongoing ASUU strike

    UniAbuja breaks silence over ongoing ASUU strike

    The Management of the university of Abuja (UniAbuja) says academic and administrative activities on campus will go on in spite of  reported strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC) UniAbuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, said this at a meeting with Provost, Deans, Directors and Heads of academic departments.

    A statement from the meeting, signed by Dr Habib Yakoob, the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, was made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

    The vice chancellor described the strike as divisive and unnecessary, vowing that the management would never allow the university to be crippled again.

    “As far as the management of the university is concerned, this institution is not on strike.

    “Some people said they have declared a strike but all of us with the management have decided that our normal activities in the university must go on.

    “Our exam is going on, senate meeting will continue, everything we do as a university will continue, our calendar will not be disrupted any longer by the grace of God.

    “It is wrong to cripple the university over issues that are merely sentimental and some of which we have dialogued over and resolved, we are prepared not to allow this disruption again,” he said.

    He debunked all the reported allegations of the union which they claimed informed its declaration of indefinite strike.

    “Take for instance, the advert for the position of the vice-chancellor, we are not the only university that has advertised, we had the support and approval of the government.

    “The advert was done by the Minister of Education, all I did as vice- chancellor was to request, to ask for what is next and they decided this is what we must do.

    “And if you look at the advertisement from the beginning, this fact is very clear. It is only that they had to send it to us for execution that is all,” he explained.

    He also described the union’s allegations of illegal recruitment, promotion, delay in the election of deanship, and microfinance bank establishment as unfounded, adding that the university had followed due process in handling all these matters.

    He said the university ensured that relevant institutions concerned with oversights were contacted.

    On the issue of the election of deans and establishment of microfinance bank, he disclosed that the elections time table had long been publicised.

    He explained that the elections of four deans had been conducted so far.

    Na’Allah also said that the university management had invested over N200 million in the proposed Microfinance Bank over the ASUU’s N4 million.

    He said the investment had been made before the union wrote directly to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop granting the license for our operation.

    The vice-chancellor said his administration had been working hard to develop the university and would not fold its arms and allow a group of people to destabilise its calendar.

    “For over four years, our goal has been to lift this university much higher than it was, and this we have succeeded in doing by taking our academic and infrastructural developments to a world class level.