Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has approved the reinstatement of Dr Surajo Abdullahi Shinkafi as Rector of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara, with immediate effect, following a review of the circumstances that led to his suspension in June.

Shinkafi has been directed to report to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and resume his duties as substantive Rector of the Institution.

The reinstatement was disclosed in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Mohammed, and made available to newsmen in Gusau, the state capital.

Shinkafi had been suspended in mid June over allegations of gross administrative misconduct and insubordination, a decision the state government said at the time was necessary to safeguard the smooth running of academic and administrative activities at the Polytechnic.

Following the suspension, the state government inaugurated an eight member panel chaired by a former Head of Service, Mujtaba Isah, to investigate the allegations against Shinkafi. Secretary to the State Government Abubakar Mohammed Nakwada, addressing the panel at its inauguration, urged members to establish the facts objectively rather than presume guilt or innocence, and to submit recommendations consistent with the law and principles of good governance.

At the time of the suspension, the government did not disclose specific details of the allegations, though it maintained the action followed a review of Shinkafi's conduct and management of the Institution.

Friday's reinstatement statement similarly offered no further detail on the panel's findings or the outcome of its investigation, stating only that the decision followed a careful review of the circumstances surrounding the suspension.

Abdu Gusau Polytechnic is among Zamfara's major tertiary institutions, with thousands of National Diploma and Higher National Diploma students whose academic session continued under interim administrative arrangements during the roughly six weeks Shinkafi was suspended.