By Felix Khanoba
The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has dismissed a “mischievous story”, which raised allegations of infractions in the recruitment and transfer of staff in the institution.
The AUTHORITY reports that an online newspaper had published a story titled, ‘UniAbuja stinks with Fraud and Illegality over Appointments and Transfers.”
Responding to the seeming baseless allegations in the story, UniAbuja’s Acting Director, Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, described the report as not only totally false but one designed to smear the image of the institution.
Dr Yakoob, in a statement on Sunday said : “The Management of University of Abuja is constrained to respond to a false and mischievous story by one Business Africa Digest, a so-called news online platform which has made baseless claims regarding the employment practices and academic programmes of our esteemed University, as well as a couple of other irresponsible allegations and accusations. We would like to categorically refute these unfounded allegations and set the record straight.
The fake story published by the said platform on Friday 19th January 2023 began by alleging what it called “illegal and unwarranted transfers” of “academic mediocre (sic),” to the University, not brought in “based on the needs of the departments,” interviewed or taken with “recourse to the Registrar of the University.”
First and foremost, we want to emphasise that the University of Abuja adheres strictly to the highest standards of ethics and due process in all matters related to employment and academic programmes. In particular, the University has a transparent and credible hiring process in place, which is designed to ensure fairness, best talent hunt and equal opportunity for all candidates. Any suggestion to the contrary is entirely without merit and exists only in the figment of imagination of the platform.
The platform’s anonymous reporter, citing a recent advert by the head of department of English, University of Abuja, makes mockery of himself by stating that the “latest painstaking findings by our correspondent showed an advertisement for two new masters degree programmes, M.A Hermeneutics/Logics and Generative Phonology, and Clinical Literary Studies and Ecocritical Studies put up by the Head of Department (HOD), Professor Razinat T. Mohammed.”
We ask, what does ‘painstaking findings’ mean in reference to an advertisement that was already in the public domain and clearly signed by the head of department? How much effort did the platform need to make just to “find” a piece of advert that had gone viral?
Also the courses advertised, contrary to the claim of the reporter are all approved. These are specialisation areas or disciplines within English language and literature: Hermeneutics/Logics, Generative Phonology, Clinical Literary Studies, and Ecocritical Studies in which experts were being sought in the department. Or how do you advertise vacancies for programmes that are, as the reporter insinuated, “nonexistent in the Department of English, University of Abuja?” What is the essence of the advert if the courses are unavailable? Are staff not to be recruited to teach the courses advertised? It is clear that this reporter simply conflated his opinion with the news when he stated that “more worrisome to our reporter” is the idea that “graduate assistants and master’s degree holders were now deemed specialities (sic) in the Department of English, University of Abuja.”
Another egregious part of the report is the unverified and totally false claim that “money is already exchanging hands for the interview scheduled for the second week of February, 2024.” The reporter failed to pursue his “exclusive story” to a logical conclusion by suggesting who’s taking the money, who’s giving the money, how much and for what.
Hiding under the pretext of speaking with some “senior academic staff” who sought for anonymity, to undermine the integrity of a credible institution such as the University of Abuja is the height of irresponsible journalism. You do not pass off your opinion as facts from a source that does not exist and think you are a a professional.
Morover, we would like to state that the absence of the Governing Council has not provided any cover for the employment of staff without due process. Whether the Council exists or not, the integrity of the vice-chancellor and managment of the University ensures that due process is always followed in the recruitment process or in carrying out other responsibilities which require the supervisory role of the Council.
The reporter makes one more laughable error by stating that “contrary to the provisions of the Act establishing the University,” vacancy for the position of the vice-chancellor had not been advertised, even though his tenure would end by June 2024. Yet he was smart enough not to quote any such provisions of the Act. To insinuate a certain discontentment among staff with regard to this baseless story is crude and immoral. The University of Abuja community is very much happy with the administration of the vice-chancellor, who has worked hard to change the face of the University. Even though we are conscious that we would miss his pragmatic leadership when he leaves office, we have not violated any law by not advertising the vacancy position as of this moment.
We understand the importance of healthy journalism, and that any responsible media will exercise caution and diligence in verifying information before publication. The dissemination of this false and misleading report was, no doubt, intended to harm the reputation of our University as well as undermine the public’s trust in our institution. But it is this platform that should be concerned about its own credibility.
For the avoidance of doubt, our academic offerings are thoroughly reviewed and approved by the appropriate management and Senate of the University. We call on the general public to disregard the claims of this platform and continue to have the confidence and trust they have always had in the University.
On our part, we stand by the integrity of our employment practices and academic programmes and are committed to upholding the values of transparency and accountability. We encourage anyone with genuine concerns or inquiries about our University to reach out to our official channels for accurate information.”
