Story by Bright Onuegbu
The University of Abuja—recently renamed Yakubu Gowon University by President Bola Tinubu—is currently embroiled in controversy over the recent appointment of 57 senior officials by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patricia Manko Lar.
Concerns have arisen within the university community, with several staff members accusing the Acting Vice Chancellor of bias and favouritism in the selection process. The appointments, which include directors and heads of key units, are said to reflect a lopsided distribution that critics warn could deepen religious and ethnic divisions on campus.
Documents obtained by PRNigeria, along with information from internal university sources, reveal that 44 of the appointees—representing approximately 77.2%—are Christians, while only 13 (22.8%) are Muslims. Notably, no individuals from the North-West geopolitical zone or of Hausa-Fulani origin are reportedly among the newly appointed officials.
These claims, made by concerned staff who requested anonymity, have heightened tensions across the university.
Critics further allege that all Muslim members of the university’s management were removed and replaced by Christians, raising serious concerns about religious imbalance in the institution’s leadership structure.
Adding to the controversy, some of the new appointees are reportedly affiliated with an internal faction known as the “G43”—a group allegedly opposed to the leadership of former Vice Chancellors Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah and Professor Aisha Maikudi.
There are also allegations that some individuals on the appointment list either lack the requisite qualifications or have previously underperformed in administrative capacities.
Prominent voices in the academic community have warned that the perceived imbalance could deepen existing divisions within the university, posing a risk to its stability and cohesion.
“It is both strange and inexplicable that someone with less than four months remaining in her acting tenure would implement such sweeping changes. It seems to be driven by a specific agenda,” a senior staff member told PRNigeria.
He added: “A director of one of the university’s key centres was removed just weeks after assuming office, despite prior caution from TETFund—the federal agency funding the centre. Another director, a top-performing administrator from Niger State who recently won an international award, was also removed. The implications of these decisions are alarming.”
“The university is at risk of becoming a theatre for religious bigotry and administrative chaos. The federal government must intervene before the situation deteriorates further,” the source warned.
Adding to the discontent, representatives of the alumni association and indigenous groups from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed disappointment over what they describe as exclusionary practices. They lamented the total absence of FCT indigenes from the new appointments—even in a newly created special centre meant to cater to their interests, which is now headed by an individual neither indigenous to the FCT nor long affiliated with the university.
However, when PRNigeria contacted the university’s spokesperson, Dr. Habib Yakoob, he defended the appointments, claiming they were based solely on merit and aimed at advancing the university’s best interests.
He said: “The recent appointments made by the Professor Lar-led management were based on merit. The Acting Vice-Chancellor demonstrated confidence in the appointees’ abilities to contribute significantly to the university’s development, aligning with its goals and vision. The appointment process was free from bias, without considering religion or ethnicity.”
As discontent brews, stakeholders call for an immediate review of the appointment process to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and adherence to merit-based principles.
With tensions mounting, attention now shifts to the federal government and the university’s governing council, who are being urged to act swiftly to prevent a more profound crisis
By PRNigeria