The Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State, is again embroiled in a leadership crisis following controversies surrounding the selection process for the vice-chancellor position.
The crisis erupted after the university’s governing council shortlisted candidates for interview for the VC role. Some aspirants criticised the process, accusing the outgoing vice-chancellor, Prof. Armayau Bichi, of manipulating the exercise to favour his preferred candidate.
These allegations have drawn widespread attention, particularly within academic circles, prompting two aggrieved contenders to file formal petitions challenging the process.
However, Prof Bichi denied the allegations, saying the selection process was conducted with utmost integrity.
Petitions against outgoing VC
One of the contenders, Prof. Sadiq Radda, submitted a petition to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, alleging a deliberate plan to compromise the process and exclude him from consideration.
Prof. Radda, a professor in the Sociology Department at Bayero University, Kano, claimed that several qualified candidates were dropped without justification despite fulfilling all the advertised requirements.
He accused the outgoing vice-chancellor of attempting to impose a less qualified candidate.
In his petition dated April 25, which was also copied to the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, the Chairman of the Governing Council, and the ASUU chapter at FUDMA, he wrote: “I am one of the applicants for the post of Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma. I complied with all the criteria outlined in the university’s advertisement. The Council met and conducted a selection process. Shockingly, many of us were eliminated without any valid explanation.
Another contender for the position of vice chancellor, Professor Usman Aliyu Dustinma, has filed a petition to the institution’s Governing Council, alleging bias, irregularities, and a lack of transparency in the ongoing selection process.
In a letter dated April 28, 2025, and copied to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, Prof. Dustinma criticised the process, claiming that merit and due process were being compromised in favour of certain preferred candidates.
He alleged that the exercise was skewed to benefit a specific applicant, in contravention of the advertised criteria and standard procedures guiding the appointment of vice chancellors in Nigerian federal universities.
Both aggrieved candidates expressed satisfaction with the federal government’s prompt intervention in the matter, calling on the Minister of Education to review the entire process in the interest of fairness and institutional integrity.
In a separate open letter to the minister, a legal practitioner, Sulaiman Muhammad Namadi, from Dutsin-Ma, raised additional concerns about the selection process.
Namadi alleged that the outgoing vice chancellor was attempting to impose a preferred successor, potentially at the expense of more qualified candidates.
He called for an immediate investigation and ministerial intervention to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process.
Lingering leadership tussle
FUDMA in Katsina State is one of the twelve federal universities established by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010. It was notably the first among them to matriculate students and commence academic activities in July 2012.
However, since its inception, the university has been embroiled in persistent leadership crises. The first vice chancellor, Professor James Ayatse, was the subject of several petitions, which reportedly prompted the federal government to constitute a visitation panel. The panel’s findings culminated in the termination of his appointment alongside others.
Professor Haruna Kaita was appointed as Ayatse’s successor but soon found himself at odds with the university’s governing council, led by Dr. Marliya Zayyana. Despite Kaita’s efforts to address key challenges at the institution, mutual accusations of undermining authority marred his tenure. The situation escalated when Dr Zayyana convened a meeting that led to Kaita’s suspension based on allegations of financial mismanagement.
According to a dismissal letter dated April 13, 2017, Kaita was accused of unilaterally dismissing 160 staff members and reappointing others without council approval, along with other allegations of financial misconduct. Kaita denied the accusations and challenged his suspension at the National Industrial Court.
Following his removal, Professor Armayau Bichi was appointed in an acting capacity, although such appointments are legally limited to six months. Bichi remained in office for about two years before stepping aside under pressure. He was succeeded by Prof. Baba Kutigi, who also served for six months, after which Dr Babangida Dangani took over as acting vice chancellor.
During this period, an advert was published to fill the substantive VC position, but the process was halted by a court due to pending litigation. In total, FUDMA has had five vice chancellors, including four in an acting capacity, leading to institutional instability.
At various times, these developments prompted intervention from the National Assembly’s Senate and House Committees on Tertiary Education.
Despite attempts by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education to mediate, the leadership crisis has persisted.
30 professors failed screening test – Prof Bichi
Efforts to reach the Vice Chancellor, Professor Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls from our reporter nor responded to a text message sent to him.
However, in a recent interview with another newspaper, Professor Bichi revealed that 30 out of the 36 professors who applied for the position of Vice Chancellor failed to meet the required selection criteria.
He explained that the selection committee conducted the screening process with utmost integrity and fear of the Almighty Allah. Only six candidates, he said, successfully passed the screening.
The outgoing Vice Chancellor also noted that three of the applicants were from Katsina State. However, he stressed that their origin did not influence the outcome, as they were unable to meet the 10 essential criteria set by the committee.
Professor Bichi further alleged that some of the applicants submitted petitions against the committee even before the screening report was released, apparently in anticipation of not passing the process.
FUDMA appoints new acting VC
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Aminu Ado, has been appointed as the new acting vice chancellor of the university.
According to a special bulletin signed by the Director of Information and Protocol, Nasir Abdul, Professor Ado was elected during the 130th Special Senate Meeting held on Monday, May 5, 2025.
“Although he was the sole nominee for the position, his nomination was subjected to a vote, in which he received 92 votes in favour and 2 against,” the bulletin said.
Professor Ado will assume office following the expiration of the tenure of the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, on Monday, May 12, 2025.
The bulletin further noted, “In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Bichi, explained that the Special Senate Meeting was convened to elect an Acting Vice Chancellor who would serve pending the conclusion of the selection process for a new substantive Vice Chancellor.”
Professor Ado brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously held several key positions in the university. These include Head of the Department of Microbiology, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, Acting Provost of the College of Health Sciences, and both External and Internal Examiner.
Similar VC crisis
The University of Abuja recently witnessed a leadership crisis over the appointment of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as Vice-Chancellor.
Forty-three professors petitioned President Bola Tinubu, claiming her appointment violated the 10-year professorial experience requirement, as she had only served two years.
The Governing Council defended the process, citing legal compliance.
However, on February 6, Tinubu removed Maikudi and dissolved the Council, appointing Professor Patricia Manko Lar as acting Vice-Chancellor for six months.
Days later, ten other professors petitioned the president, calling Maikudi’s removal unconstitutional and demanding a reversal of the decision, thereby deepening the controversy.
