FG Orders FUTO VC To Reverse Appointment Of 24 Aides, Summons Him Over Governance Concerns
The Federal Ministry of Education has directed the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) to immediately withdraw the appointment of 24 aides in his office over alleged breaches of due process.
The directive was contained in a confidential correspondence dated June 25, 2026, obtained by Channel Network Afrique in which the ministry faulted the appointments and ordered the Vice-Chancellor to reverse them without delay and provide evidence of compliance.
The letter, signed by the Acting Director of University Education, Dr. Kareem O. L., on behalf of the Minister of Education, described the appointments as irregular and inconsistent with regulations governing Nigeria’s federal universities.
According to the document, the directive followed the Ministry’s review of an internal university memorandum dated June 22, 2026, through which the appointments were reportedly made.
The ministry stated that after a careful examination of the appointments and the circumstances surrounding them, the Minister observed that the action was “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 withdraw the appointments forthwith and submit documentary evidence confirming compliance with the directive.
The development marks a significant intervention by the Federal Government in the administration of one of Nigeria’s leading technology universities and has raised fresh concerns about governance practices within federal tertiary institutions.
Beyond directing the reversal of the appointments, the Ministry also summoned the Vice-Chancellor to Abuja for an urgent meeting scheduled for June 29, 2026.
According to the correspondence, discussions at the meeting will go beyond the disputed appointments and focus on broader issues 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 examining wider administrative decisions within the institution amid concerns over adherence to established procedures.
“The Ministry remains committed to promoting transparency, prudence and best practices in the management of our tertiary institutions,” the letter stated, while expressing confidence that the university would comply with the directive.
A copy of the communication was also forwarded to the National Universities Commission (NUC), a move that underscores the seriousness of the matter and its potential implications for university governance.
