Alausa summons FUTO VC over alleged irregular appointment of 24 aides
Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, has directed Ikechukwu Dozie, vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), to immediately withdraw the appointment of 24 aides in his office, citing alleged breaches of due process.
The directive was conveyed in a letter dated June 25, 2026, signed by Kareem O. L., acting director of university education at the ministry, on behalf of the minister of education.
According to the correspondence obtained by The Times of Abuja, the minister described the appointments as irregular and inconsistent with regulations governing federal universities in Nigeria.
He said the directive followed the ministry’s review of an internal university memorandum dated June 22, 2026, through which the appointments were reportedly made.
In the letter, the minister said the appointments were found to be at variance with extant regulations, established procedures, and the principles of due process governing appointments within the federal university system.
The vice-chancellor was directed to reverse the appointments immediately and provide documentary evidence of compliance without delay.
Alausa also summoned the vice-chancellor to Abuja for a meeting with ministry officials on June 29.
According to the letter, the meeting will address not only the disputed appointments but also broader issues relating to institutional governance, administrative accountability, due process, and compliance with regulatory requirements in federal universities.
The minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to transparency, prudence, and best practices in the management of tertiary institutions, expressing confidence that the university would comply with the directive.
A copy of the correspondence was forwarded to the National Universities Commission (NUC).
As of the time of filing this report, neither the management of FUTO nor the Federal Ministry of Education had issued a public statement on the matter.
