FUTO VC withdraws 24 aide appointments after the Education Minister declared the appointments irregular and summoned the vice-chancellor to Abuja

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Professor Ikechukwu Dozie, has withdrawn the appointments of 24 personal aides following a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education, which described the appointments as irregular and contrary to established procedures governing Nigeria’s federal universities.

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The reversal was announced in Owerri through a circular issued by the university’s Registrar, Chiedozie Uba, while the Vice-Chancellor has also been directed to appear before officials of the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Monday, June 29, 2026, over the controversy.

In a circular dated June 24 and addressed to members of the university community, the registrar confirmed that the appointments, which had earlier been communicated through a university memorandum, had been withdrawn with immediate effect.

“Please refer to our memo Ref: FUT/REG/CR/CIR.4 dated June 22, 2026, on the above subject.

“I have been directed to notify the University Community that all the appointments previously conveyed through the above-quoted memo are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect,” the circular stated.

The decision followed intervention by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who summoned Professor Dozie to Abuja after the ministry became aware of the appointments.

In a letter signed by the Acting Director of University Education, Dr Kareem Olalekan, on behalf of the minister, the Federal Ministry of Education said the appointments were inconsistent with the regulations and due process guiding appointments within Nigeria’s Federal University System.

The ministry described the appointments as “at variance with the extant regulations, established procedures, and the principles of due process governing appointments within the Federal University System.”

According to the letter, the ministry directed the university to immediately withdraw the appointments and submit documentary evidence confirming compliance with the directive.

“The attention of the Honourable Minister of Education has been drawn to your Memorandum Ref. No. FUT/REG/CR/CIR/4 dated 22 June 2026 concerning the appointment of twenty-four (24) aides in various capacities within the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.

“Upon careful consideration of the contents of the memorandum and the circumstances surrounding the appointments, the Honourable Minister is constrained to observe that the appointments, as presently constituted, are irregular and are at variance with the extant regulations, established procedures, and the principles of due process governing appointments within the Federal University System.

“In light of the foregoing, I am directed to request that the said memorandum be withdrawn forthwith and that documentary evidence confirming the withdrawal be forwarded to the ministry without delay in compliance with the directive of the Honourable Minister,” the letter read.

The withdrawal came within days of the ministry’s intervention, signalling swift compliance with the directive while the university prepares for further engagement with federal education authorities.

Professor Dozie is expected to meet ministry officials in Abuja on Monday to provide explanations regarding the appointments and discuss issues surrounding compliance with the regulations governing administrative appointments in federal universities.

The Federal Ministry of Education has consistently maintained oversight of governance and administrative procedures in federally owned tertiary institutions to ensure compliance with public service regulations, transparency and accountability.

Previous interventions by the ministry have centred on adherence to due process in appointments, financial management and institutional governance.

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The outcome of Monday’s meeting is expected to determine whether any additional administrative measures will be taken regarding the appointments and reinforce compliance with established governance standards across Nigeria’s federal university system.