The ongoing crisis over the selection of a new Vice Chancellor at the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State, has taken a new turn as one of the aspirants, Prof. Rasheed Hamzat, petitioned the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, over alleged irregularities.
In a three-page letter, Prof. Hamzat accused the university’s Governing Council and selection committee of violating key guidelines for the appointment of a Vice Chancellor, especially regarding academic qualifications and age limits.
According to him, the advertised criteria ignored two major conditions clearly stated in the government’s guidelines: that a candidate must have been a professor for at least 10 years and must not be older than 64 years at the time of assuming duty.
“The guideline is very clear and specific. It says the person must be a professor with at least 10 years of experience and must not be more than 64 years old,” the letter read.
Hamzat, a professor of Agriculture, further claimed that the selection process included candidates with less than three years of professorial experience, which he described as a serious breach of procedure.
He also faulted the composition of the selection committee, alleging that it did not comply with the proper structure as laid out in the rules governing the appointment of Vice Chancellors in federal universities.
“This anomaly led to the shortlisting of six unqualified candidates. This is contrary to the minister’s directive and the established guidelines,” he added.
FUDMA has been plagued by similar issues since its establishment in 2010 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, with frequent controversies over Vice Chancellor appointments.
The Education Ministry is yet to respond to the petition, but the development has sparked fresh tension within the university community. Many stakeholders are now calling for transparency and adherence to due process in the ongoing selection.
