The Federal Ministry of Education has issued an urgent directive to the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education, Odugbo, Benue State, ordering the immediate nullification of the appointments of its Provost, Registrar, and Bursar. The mandate follows allegations that the selection process flagrantly violated established federal regulations.
In a formal letter dated March 2, 2026, and signed by the Director of Colleges of Education, Dr Uchenna Uba, on behalf of Minister Tunji Alausa, the Ministry explicitly stated that the appointments contravened the Conditions of Service for Colleges of Education. Specifically, the Ministry cited Section 2, Subsection 8(1)(i), alongside approved modalities for the implementation of CONTEDISS 15 for administrative and accounting staff.
The Ministry revealed that it had previously instructed the council to suspend the recruitment exercise and readvertise the positions to ensure compliance with the law. Because these instructions were ignored, the Ministry has now invoked its authority under Section 12 of the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, demanding the immediate withdrawal of all appointment letters issued to the affected officers.
To prevent an administrative vacuum, particularly as the incumbent Provost’s tenure is set to expire this month, the Ministry has ordered the council to re advertise the Provost position within seven days. The council is also required to submit a copy of the revised advertisement to the Ministry for official documentation and record keeping purposes.
Public pressure is mounting, as the Centre for Accountability and Public Engagement (CAPE) has formally petitioned the Ministry regarding the incident. In a statement released Tuesday, CAPE Executive Director Danielson Akpan condemned the development as a significant setback for reforms in the education sector and a violation of due process.
The organisation expressed “serious concern” over the disregard for the Ministry’s prior directives, noting that such actions undermine institutional governance and erode public confidence. CAPE warned that the incident is symptomatic of a broader pattern of procedural violations currently plaguing various tertiary institutions across the country.
Emphasising that the credibility and stability of the nation’s tertiary system rely on meritocracy and strict adherence to rules, the group is now calling for the Ministry to strictly enforce its directive. CAPE has further urged that any individuals found to have deliberately circumvented these procedures face appropriate sanctions to preserve the integrity of the institution.
