Members of Internal Governing Councils of University of Abuja (UniAbuja) have filed a suit against the Vice Chancellor, Prof Rasheed Na’Allah, over alleged plan to conduct election for new members while they are yet to complete their tenure.
The members, led by Prof Edmund J. C Nwana, said: “We were elected 12th of July 2021; there was a contest and we emerged winners in both Senate and congregation. We were subsequently inaugurated on the 15th of July 2021 for a four-year term.”
He stated this during a briefing on Friday, saying, while they were about doing council assignments, they got information that Governing Council activities had been put on hold by the new administration.
“As we were watching and listening to know what the next government wants to do, the rumours started flying and they were quite serious that our administration here, led by the Vice Chancellor, was planning to call for another election on his own understanding that Council has gone,” he said.
Nwana said: “So, we got wind of it and decided that, we don’t have time for any physical engagement or argument so we decided to seek the interpretation of the law, because it is in the act of the University of Abuja. So, we sought a legal explanation through the Federal High Court in Abuja a few days ago. So that’s where we are today, he has been served notice of a case that is pending.”
Speaking, the Counsel to the members, Barrister Maxwell Opara, advised the VC to maintain status quo, saying, “ The office of the Vice Chancellor is a creation of the law, just like the office of the council members so once a matter is in court, parties are expected to maintain the status quo.”
He urged the VC to take the option of allowing members to complete their tenure or wait for the court to serve its judgment.
He called on the Minister of Education, Executive Secretary of NUC, the Attorney General of the Federation and the President to call the VC to order.
Also, the Chairman, University of Abuja ASUU branch, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, said the planned election by the VC is not in accordance with the law.
“Internal council members were elected for tenure of four years and they have not exhausted the four years. And because of what the University administration is doing, the members went to court to seek interpretation and ASUU being a union of intellectuals, we come to be in solidarity with our members because we respect the rule of law and want them to pursue it,” he said.
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