A few hours after conducting the matriculation ceremony at Yakubu Gowon University (University of Abuja), Professor Aisha Maikudi was relieved of her appointment.
President Bola Tinubu has also sacked the Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (Rtd), Governing Council of the institution.
The development comes less than six weeks after the VC’s appointment.
Maikudi’s removal and the Governing Council dissolution were contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.
According to the statement, their sack was ordered by President Tinubu.
Recall that Maikudi’s appointment had been met with stiff opposition in some quarters.
Last month, a total of 43 professors had written to President Tinubu declaring their opposition to the emergence of Maikudi as the institution’s vice-chancellor.
They accused the school’s governing council of breaching the relevant university’s law to foist Maikudi, whom they said was unqualified to hold the position, on them.
The statement on Thursday announced Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor at the University for a six-month term.
It read in part: “At Yakubu Gowon University, President Tinubu dissolved the entire governing council and relieved Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi of her duties as Vice-Chancellor.
“Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University. He was succeeded in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, now pro-chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
“To succeed Maikudi, President Tinubu appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor at Yakubu Gowon University for a six-month term. She will not be eligible to apply for the substantive Vice Chancellor position when it becomes available.
“In addition, President Tinubu has removed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), before his tenure ends on February 14.”
Prof. Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as his successor for six months and will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position.
The leadership changes at UNN extended to the Pro-Chancellor, Major General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), who has been reassigned as Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo.
President Tinubu appointed Olubunmi Kayode Ojo as the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN.
Previously, Ojo held the same position at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.
Prof. Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, has been appointed to succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja.
Senator Sani Stores, a council member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Emordi.
Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has also been appointed new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
President Tinubu emphasised that these changes reflect his administration’s commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s higher education system through dynamic leadership and accountability.
The restructuring aims to strengthen governance and academic excellence within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
