Tensions reached a boiling point at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) on Tuesday as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIABUJA branch, clashed during a heated meeting over the alleged involvement of their leadership in the controversial appointment of Prof. Aisha Maikudi as the university’s substantive vice-chancellor.
The meeting, which was convened to discuss pressing union matters, ended in disarray when a member proposed a vote of no confidence in the branch chairman, Sylvester Ugoh. The motion, reportedly fueled by allegations of Ugoh’s role in what members called a “fraudulent manipulation” of Maikudi’s appointment, was promptly seconded, signaling a potential revolt against the leadership.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn when the immediate past chairman of the ASUU branch intervened with a counter-motion, effectively halting the proceedings. The abrupt end to the meeting left no resolution in sight, deepening the divisions within the union.
Watch the moment the ASUU members were fighting.
A source within the union revealed that many congress members are disillusioned with the branch leadership, accusing them of abandoning ASUU’s core principles and collaborating in the alleged irregularities surrounding Maikudi’s appointment.
“ASUU’s meeting ended abruptly today, January 14, 2025, in serious crisis due to the alleged complicity and compromise of the branch leadership of ASUU, University of Abuja, in the fraudulent manipulations that led to the emergence of Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi as the substantive VC of the University of Abuja,” a disgruntled member said.
Another member accused the leadership of betraying the union’s cause, citing the appointment of ASUU secretary, Prof. Sunday Onakpa, as the Director of the University Veterinary Clinic, allegedly as a reward for their perceived complicity.
The controversy surrounding Maikudi’s appointment has sparked widespread discontent among some UNIABUJA professors, who claim the selection process was manipulated to favor her. They allege that the Chairman of the Governing Council expedited the process during the Christmas and New Year break, leaving little room for proper evaluation.
Video clips from the ASUU meeting, widely circulated online, show chaotic scenes as members engaged in heated arguments, reflecting the depth of the crisis within the union.
Despite the ongoing turmoil, Prof. Aisha Maikudi’s appointment as vice-chancellor remains official, though it continues to face resistance from certain quarters of the academic community. As the conflict intensifies, the path to reconciliation and resolution appears increasingly uncertain.
