The crisis that has trailed the emergence
of the new Vice-Chancellor recently at
the University of Abuja is far from over
as three lecturers from the ivory tower
have dragged the university authorities
before the National Industrial Court
sitting in Abuja.

Among questions being asked for
determination include; whether or not
the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman,
Governing Council of the University of
Abuja, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, can
legally or validly appoint Prof. Adikwu as
the Vice-Chancellor of the university
which is said to be in contravention of
the provisions of the University
(Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2003 as
well as whether or not the provision of
Section 8 of the Federal Character
Commission (Establishment) Act is not
mandatory in the appointment of a Vice-
Chancellor in the University.

Stakeholders are also claiming that the
Governing Council of the University of
Abuja failed to observe merit in the
appointment process, as they alleged
that “the most qualified candidate on
merit, performance as well as under the
Federal Character principle is Professor
Umaru Garba Danbatta who scored the
highest mark in the interview referred to
above.”
However, from the report of the Joint
Council and Senate Selection Board on
the appointment of a new Vice-
Chancellor for the University of Abuja,
submitted to the Governing Council at its
34th Extra-Ordinary meeting of Tuesday,
24th June, 2014, and which was attached
as exhibit before the court, the three
candidates were shortlisted based on
their academic achievements which were
outlined as criteria or precondition for
appointment as Vice Chancellor.

According to the report, Prof. Danbatta,
who hails from Kano State, has one
academic publication to his credit in the
last two years and attended two
international academic conferences and
presented two papers. He supervised and
graduated two doctoral students as well
as 16 Masters’ degree students in the
last ten years.
Prof. Lawal, whom the claimants alleged
came second, has four academic
publications to his credit in the last two
years, attended one international
academic conference and presented one
paper. He supervised and graduated
eleven Doctoral students in the last ten
years.
The new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adikwu,
was alleged to have thirteen academic
publications to his credit in the last two
years, attended one international
academic conference and presented one
paper. He supervised and graduated
seven Doctoral students as well as forty
Post Graduate Students in the last ten
years. Apart from these, the Vice
Chancellor has, among other academic
laurels, the prestigious Nigeria Academy
of Science Award which he won in 2006,
as the Nigerian best scientist of the year,
a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of
Science and Fellow of Pharmaceutical
Society of Nigeria.
In terms of catchment area and
geopolitical zones, Prof. Danbatta, a
professor of Electronic and Electrical
Engineering, is from Kano State (North
West), Prof. Lawal, a professor of
Language Education, is from Kwara State
(North Central), and Prof. Adikwu, a
professor of Pharmacy and is from
Benue State (North Central).
While the claimants alleged that on the
basis of the above assessment, the three
top candidates were graded with Prof.
Danbatta scoring the highest grade of 86
per cent in the screening and interview
exercise, Prof. Lawal came second by
scoring 73 per cent and Prof Adikwu
came third with 65 per cent, they
however failed to provide the basis of
the score as the alleged second and third
candidates seemed to be better in terms
of academic output., which was said to
have been a critical factor in the choice
of the new vice chancellor.
The claimants are praying the court for a
declaration that the purported
appointment of Prof. Adikwu as Vice
Chancellor by the Governing Council of
University of Abuja “is null and void and
of no effect whatsoever.” They are
equally seeking an order compelling the
Governing Council to observe merit and
the provisions of the university
miscellaneous Act and the Federal
Character Commission’s Act and the 1st
defendant’s Senate Rules in proceedings
of the appointment of the post of the
Vice-Chancellor. As a result the asked
the court to make an order compelling
the Governing Council to appoint the
candidate with the highest score on his
merit and performance in the screening
and interview.
Meanwhile, President of the National
Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde
Adejumo affirmed that the matter will be
assigned to a judge of the court and
hearing notices will be served on parties.
However, what stakeholders are worried
about is not the crisis in itself; it is the
future of the university which over the
years has suffered a whole gamut of set-
backs ranging from poor infrastructural
development to academic and
administrative crises. And based on the
facts above, it is clear that the
authorities not only considered the
result of the screening and interview but
also looked into the catchment area and
past performances of the three selected
applicants and saw that the newly
appointed VC has a richer credential and
what it takes to steer the long embattled
university to enviable greatness.



www.leadership.ng/news/378030/uniabuja-vcs-appointment-matters-arising