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The meeting, convened by branch chairman Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, was intended to discuss the outcome of the ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
A congress meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) chapter (now Yakubu Gowon University), was abruptly adjourned on Thursday due to a leadership crisis and allegations of fraudulent employment, SaharaReporters has learned.
The meeting, convened by branch chairman Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, was intended to discuss the outcome of the ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.
The NEC had condemned President Tinubu’s decision to dissolve the UNIABUJA Governing Council and dismiss Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi.
However, tensions escalated when a member of the G43, who had written an open letter to the President, voiced support for the President’s decision, stating that there was nothing objectionable about the action.
A source who observed the meeting informed SaharaReporters that “the G43 member told the congress that it was necessary to avert a senseless crisis, which justified the use of a big stick against the erring Council.”
“Even two immediate past chairpersons of ASUU, UNIABUJA branch attempted to defend the position of ASUU-NEC, but it was to no avail,” the source said.
On January 7, SaharaReporters revealed that members of the Senate of the University of Abuja, comprising 43 professors, had petitioned President Tinubu, expressing a complete loss of faith and confidence in the Governing Council.
In the petition dated January 2, 2025, the professors accused the Governing Council of lacking integrity, competence, and fairness in the selection of the university’s substantive Vice Chancellor.
They specifically criticised the Council’s handling of the Vice Chancellor appointment process, claiming it was marred by irregularities and a disregard for due process.
The petitioners urged President Tinubu to take immediate action to address the situation and restore the integrity of the university’s governance.
Responding to the petition, on February 6, President Bola Tinubu dismissed Prof. Maikudi as Vice-Chancellor of the university and renamed the institution after former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
The president also dissolved the Governing Council of the University, led by Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita and appointed Senator Lanre Tejuoso, who was the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, as the new Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University (UNIABUJA).
However, SaharaReporters learned that the stance of the G43 rapidly escalated the situation, with six newly appointed academic staff members, allegedly employed by the Na’Allah administration, intimidating others and chanting solidarity songs.
It was learnt that the timely intervention of Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Patricia Lar prevented a full-blown crisis.
Addressing the union members, Professor Lar emphasised her commitment to restoring peace and academic culture at the university. She assured that peace would be reinstated during her six-month tenure at the institution.
Professor Lar stated that her administration would be guided by the principles of humanity and justice, ensuring that religion, tribe, or other primordial sentiments would have no place in her leadership.
The source quoted her as saying, “I have a mandate to restore peace and academic culture back to University of Abuja. I am assuring you that peace will return to the citadel of learning during my six months of stay in this University.
“My understanding of peace is backed with two principles, humanity and justice.”
The source noted that her address acted like a balm to the already frayed nerves of Congress members.
According to the source, this was the second time in three weeks that the ASUU congress had adjourned abruptly without reaching a resolution.
Citing insiders, the source said that Dr. Ugoh had privately told some senior professors close to him that they were leading the rebellion against him. The professors reportedly responded, “We do so because you have sold out and betrayed the principles of our union.”
Dr. Ugoh’s tenure is expected to end in two months, but the date for the UNIABUJA election is not listed among the dates for ASUU branch elections across the country.
In a related development, a faction of the ASUU UNIABUJA chapter has distanced itself from the ongoing strike at the institution, stating that they will not participate in the strike action.
