The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has summoned the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Ikechukwu Dozie, over his appointment of 24 aides less than a week after assuming office.
In a letter dated 25 June and signed by the Acting Director of University Education, Kareem Lateef, the minister described the appointments as irregular and directed Mr Dozie to withdraw them in line with extant regulations governing appointments in federal universities.
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The minister also invited the vice-chancellor to the ministry on 29 June for discussions on the appointments and other issues relating to institutional governance, administrative accountability, due process and compliance with the regulatory framework for federal universities.
“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,” parts of the letter read.
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Appointments
Mr Dozie assumed office as the ninth substantive vice-chancellor of FUTO on 19 June, succeeding Nnenna Oti, a professor.
Three days later, on 22 June, he announced the appointment of 24 aides through an internal memo issued by the Office of the Registrar.
The appointments included a coordinator for the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, an executive assistant, and several special assistants covering general duties, protocol, projects, communication and student support services, among others.
However, the Federal Ministry of Education faulted the appointments and asked him to reverse them.
The ministry said it remained committed to promoting transparency, prudence and best practices in the management of tertiary institutions.
“I am directed to request that the said memorandum be withdrawn forthwith and that documentary evidence confirming the withdrawal be forwarded to the ministry without delay in compliance with the directive of the minister,” the statement said.
The university also announced the reversal of the appointments in another memo dated 24 June, and signed by the registrar, Chiedozie Uba.
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“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 new memo reads.
Although the ministry’s letter directing the reversal of the appointments was dated 25 June, the memo announcing the reversal was dated a day earlier, 24 June.
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