Taraba: Internal disputes threaten VC selection process of Federal University Wukari

The process of appointing a new vice-chancellor for the Federal University Wukari, FUW, Taraba State, has been thrown into crisis following sharp disagreements among the university’s governing council, management and other stakeholders.

The controversy arose from a letter dated December 17, 2025, in which the pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council, Professor Iysa Ade Bello, directed the immediate suspension of the vice-chancellor selection process.

The letter, addressed to the incumbent vice-chancellor, Professor Jude S. Rabo, stated that the action was taken with the approval of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa.

In the letter, Professor Bello also announced plans to appoint an acting vice-chancellor upon the expiration of Professor Rabo’s tenure in February 2026, subject to ministerial approval.

He further ordered the freezing of all contract-related payments and the suspension of Governing Council meetings until further notice.

The directive, at the time of filing this report, has sparked opposition from Taraba State Concerned Citizens, a civil society group, which accused the council chairman of acting unilaterally to disrupt a process already approved by the Governing Council.

In a petition to the Minister of Education, the group argued that only the governing council, acting collectively, has the authority to suspend the appointment process, not the chairman acting alone.

The group’s leader, Ahmadu Stephen, also stated that the appointment of an acting vice-chancellor is, by law, the responsibility of the university Senate, not the minister.

According to the group, the Governing Council had approved a detailed timetable for the appointment of both a vice-chancellor and a university librarian at its 29th meeting held on February 12, 2025. Following the approval, the Senate and congregation elected their representatives, while interview panels for both positions were constituted at a council meeting on November 27, 2025.

The group questioned what had changed between November 27 and December 17, 2025, to justify the sudden suspension. It also alleged that a member of the council had long sought to influence the emergence of a vice-chancellor from the South-West, raising concerns over compliance with the federal character principle.

In a swift response, the vice-chancellor of the institution rejected allegations of interference levelled against him by the pro-chancellor.

In a letter dated December 18, 2025, Professor Rabo described the claims as misleading, stressing that the governing council had duly approved the process and that advertisements for the positions were published as early as August 2025.

He said he was surprised by the allegations, noting that he had not received any query or official communication from the Ministry of Education or the National Universities Commission, NUC. He also questioned why the suspension focused solely on the vice-chancellor’s appointment while remaining silent on the ongoing process for appointing a university librarian.

Meanwhile, investigations revealed growing tensions within the five-member selection committee overseeing the appointment.

The committee comprises two Senate representatives, two governing council members and the pro-chancellor as chairman. Sources said disagreements within the committee, particularly during the constitution of interview panels, escalated into what was described as a “cold war”, culminating in the suspension of the exercise.

Some academic and non-academic staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that a member of the committee was pursuing personal interests and attempting to favour certain candidates. They warned that the crisis, if not urgently resolved, could damage the university’s reputation, which has been noted for industrial harmony since its establishment.

The Taraba State Concerned Citizens have called on the Minister of Education, the NUC, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to intervene to ensure that the process continues transparently and in line with established procedures.