Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government has directed the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Professor Ikechukwu Dozie, to immediately withdraw the appointment of 24 aides attached to his office, citing what it described as violations of established regulations and due process governing federal universities. The directive was contained in a leaked confidential letter dated June 25, 2026, from the Federal Ministry of Education, addressed to the Vice-Chancellor. The correspondence, signed by the Acting Director of University Education, Dr. Kareem O. L., on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, ordered the immediate reversal of the appointments and demanded documentary evidence confirming compliance without delay.
Professor Dozie assumed office as the 9th substantive Vice-Chancellor of FUTO on June 18, 2026, following his appointment from Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ideato. Less than a week into his tenure, on June 22, 2026, the university issued an internal memorandum referenced FUT/REG/CR/CIR/4, through which the appointments of the 24 aides were reportedly made. The ministry's review of that memorandum and the circumstances surrounding the appointments led to the conclusion that the exercise was irregular.
The leaked letter stated 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". Consequently, the ministry directed the Vice-Chancellor to withdraw the memorandum "forthwith" and forward documentary evidence of compliance without delay. The government described the appointments as inconsistent with regulations governing Nigeria's federal universities. The ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency, prudence, and best practices in the management of tertiary institutions.
Beyond ordering the reversal of the appointments, the Federal Government also summoned Professor Dozie to Abuja for an urgent meeting with ministry officials scheduled for June 29, 2026. According to the letter, discussions at the meeting will extend beyond the controversial appointments to cover wider concerns relating to institutional governance, administrative accountability, due process, and compliance with the regulatory framework guiding federal universities. The summons suggests that the ministry may be scrutinising broader administrative decisions within the institution amid growing concerns over adherence to established procedures.
A copy of the communication was also forwarded to the National Universities Commission (NUC), the regulatory body for universities in Nigeria. The move underscores the seriousness with which the government views compliance with established administrative procedures in the nation's university system. As of the time of filing this report, neither the management of FUTO nor officials of the Federal Ministry of Education had publicly commented on the leaked directive. The identities and specific responsibilities of the affected aides were not disclosed in the ministry's letter, but officials stressed that all appointments within federal universities must conform strictly to statutory provisions, approved guidelines, and principles of transparency and accountability.
The development represents a significant intervention by the Federal Government in the administration of one of Nigeria's leading technology-based universities and has sparked fresh concerns about governance standards in federal tertiary institutions. The outcome of the scheduled meeting between the Vice-Chancellor and ministry officials is expected to attract significant attention from stakeholders in the education sector, as it may have broader implications for governance, accountability, and administrative discretion across Nigeria's federal universities.
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