Tinubu's Education Minister Accused of Power Play in FUDMA VC Appointment

Fresh concerns over political interference in Nigeria’s higher education sector have emerged, as Education Minister Dr. Olatunji Alausa faces allegations of orchestrating a behind-the-scenes campaign to install his preferred candidate as Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State.Tinubu

Sources within the university alleged that the Minister is pushing for the reinstatement of Professor Rasheed Hamzat—an academic whose appointment was previously terminated for gross misconduct.

Hamzat was dismissed four years ago after a Disciplinary Committee found him guilty of insubordination and repeated absence from duty.

Despite his tainted record, the Minister is reportedly lobbying for Hamzat to lead the institution, raising questions about the integrity of the selection process and the true motivations behind the move.

University insiders warn that appointing Hamzat would not only contravene internal council rules—since he was a council member removed for disciplinary reasons—but could also set a dangerous precedent for institutional accountability.

“If a person dismissed by the university can return to lead it, what message does that send to staff and students?” a senior council member told reporters“The law is clear: he cannot return to the same council he left under a cloud.”

The Minister’s move comes amid another controversial nomination—from Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, who is said to be backing Professor Saddiq Radda. However, Saddiq Radda reportedly failed to make it past the first screening stage after scoring poorly in both a strategic vision assessment and a plagiarism test.

The university's Governing Council, under the chairmanship of retired Colonel Abdulmumini Aminu, had shortlisted six candidates for the final stage of the recruitment process. But in an abrupt and controversial move on Monday, Minister Alausa suspended the process entirely—just days after the shortlist was finalized.

Even more striking was his decision to remove Colonel Aminu as Pro-Chancellor, replacing him with Ali Abubakar Jatau. The government justified the change as part of a broader “reform” agenda to promote transparency in university governance.

A statement from the Federal Ministry of Education, issued by spokesperson Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, claimed the reshuffle was aimed at fostering “fairness, transparency, and good governance.” But many in the university community aren’t buying it.

“This is a hostile takeover, plain and simple,” said a senior staff member who requested anonymity. “The Minister is clearly maneuvering to hijack the process and install someone who serves his interests—not the university’s.”

Critics argue that such interference undermines university autonomy and erodes public confidence in the education system. As the tenure of the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Professor Hamisu Armaya’u Bichi, draws to a close in May, fears are mounting that the position will be filled not on merit, but through political patronage.

The coming weeks will be critical for FUDMA—and for a nation watching closely to see whether its educational institutions can resist creeping political control.