By Mahdi Waziri Isa
Professor Usman Aliyu Dustinma, a top contender for the Vice Chancellor role at the Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA), has lodged a formal complaint with the university’s Governing Board, accusing the selection committee of bias and procedural violations.
In a petition dated April 28, 2025—copied to the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Maruf Alausa—Prof. Dustinma claimed the process was manipulated to favor certain candidates, disregarding merit and established guidelines for appointing VCs in federal universities.
The petition flagged alleged conflicts of interest, including the shortlisting of an unqualified candidate, and accused the acting Vice Chancellor of exerting undue influence.
“The integrity of the selection process is already in question,” Prof. Dustinma stated, insisting evaluations lacked fairness. He urged the Governing Council to rectify the irregularities immediately.
By involving the Education Minister, he sought federal intervention to uphold transparency.
While FUDMA’s Governing Council remains silent, the petition has stirred debate among academics, with many stressing the importance of merit-based appointments in universities.