Education Minister Orders FUTO VC to Reverse Appointment of 24 Aides

The Federal Ministry of Education has directed the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Ikechukwu Dozie, to immediately reverse the appointment of 24 aides in his office, describing the exercise as inconsistent with established regulations governing federal universities.

The directive was contained in a memo dated June 25, 2026, issued on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and signed by the Acting Director of University Education, Kareem O.L.

In the correspondence, the ministry said the appointments came under scrutiny following a review of an internal university memorandum dated June 22, through which the aides were reportedly engaged.

According to the ministry, the appointments did not comply with existing rules and procedures guiding administrative appointments within Nigeria’s federal university system.

“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 aides in various capacities within the Office of the Vice-Chancellor,” the memo stated.

The ministry noted that after examining the document, it concluded that the appointments were “at variance with the extant regulations, established procedures, and the principles of due process governing appointments within the Federal University System.”

Consequently, the vice-chancellor was directed to reverse the appointments without delay and furnish the ministry with evidence of compliance.

The ministry also summoned Dozie to Abuja for discussions on the issue and broader concerns relating to governance and accountability in federal tertiary institutions.

“Furthermore, I am directed to invite you to the Ministry on Monday, 29 June 2026, for further engagement on this matter and other related issues touching on institutional governance, administrative accountability, due process, and strict adherence to the regulatory framework governing the administration of Federal Universities in Nigeria,” the memo added.

A copy of the communication was forwarded to the National Universities Commission (NUC), the regulatory body overseeing university education in the country.

The ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency and prudent management of tertiary institutions, expressing the expectation that the matter would receive prompt attention.

“The Ministry remains committed to promoting transparency, prudence, and best practices in the management of our tertiary institutions and trusts that this matter will receive your prompt attention and cooperation,” the letter stated.

Prof. Dozie, a professor of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, assumed office as the ninth substantive vice-chancellor of FUTO on June 19, succeeding Prof. Nnenna Oti, whose five-year tenure recently ended.

Before his appointment at FUTO, Dozie served as vice-chancellor of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ideato North, Imo State.