The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) is embroiled in controversy as some lecturers demand a thorough investigation into an alleged N3 billion fraud. The accusation is tied to the findings of the 2021 Presidential Visitation Panel, which reviewed the university’s operations for the 2019/2020 academic session.
The lecturers, speaking on condition of anonymity, allege that irregularities in financial audits were uncovered by the panel’s report submitted to former Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu. They also suggest a deliberate effort to shield those implicated in the alleged fraud, claiming that the appointment of Prof. Aisha Maikudi as Vice-Chancellor was orchestrated to block investigations.
According to the report, there were significant discrepancies between the university’s officially reported revenue and its potential earnings based on student enrollment data and fees. While the bursary declared an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N1.65 billion for the 2019/2020 academic session, the panel calculated a figure of N4.87 billion.
“The Panel observed that the Governing Council had taken policy steps to boost the IGR base of the University through upward review of student fees and blocking of leakages in payments,” the report stated. However, the panel recommended a deeper investigation into the discrepancies, citing failures by the then Governing Council, chaired by Alhaji Sani Maikudi, who is also the father of the current Vice-Chancellor.
The aggrieved lecturers further allege a connection between Prof. Maikudi’s appointment and attempts to obscure the financial issues raised in the panel’s findings. They accuse the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, of collaborating with the current leadership to ensure the report’s recommendations are not implemented.
Prof. Na’Allah’s tenure ended in controversy, marred by industrial disputes with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and accusations of administrative misconduct. On May 2, 2024, two months before his exit, ASUU declared an indefinite strike over unresolved grievances, heightening tensions within the institution.
The lecturers are calling on the federal government to act decisively, ensuring transparency and accountability in handling the allegations. As the situation unfolds, stakeholders continue to watch closely, emphasizing the need for strong leadership and institutional integrity in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
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