The Centre for Accountability and Public Engagement has raised alarm over what it described as the “irregular appointment of principal officers” at the Federal College of Education (FCE), Odugbo, Benue State, calling it an act of sabotage against the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Danielson Akpan, who is also a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the Centre expressed serious concern about the process that led to the purported appointment of the Provost, Registrar, and Bursar of the College.

According to Akpan, “Information available to us, including official correspondence from the Federal Ministry of Education, clearly indicates that the process was conducted in flagrant violation of the established rules governing such appointments in Federal Colleges of Education.” He noted that the Ministry itself acknowledged that the exercise contravened the Conditions of Service for Colleges of Education, Section 2 Subsection 8(I)(i), as well as the approved modalities for the implementation of CONTEDISS 15 for staff on Administrative and Accountant Cadres.

The statement further revealed that the appointments were made despite earlier directives from the supervising Ministry to suspend the exercise and re-advertise the positions in line with extant regulations. “Such disregard for due process undermines institutional governance and erodes public confidence in the administration of our tertiary education system,” Akpan stressed.

The Centre linked the development to a wider pattern of administrative arbitrariness in tertiary institutions, citing recent controversies in universities and other federal institutions. It warned that such practices could cast doubts on the government’s sincerity in promoting transparency, rule of law, and good governance under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The group called on the Honourable Minister of Education to act decisively by cancelling the irregular appointments, compelling the Governing Council to withdraw the letters of appointment, re-advertising the positions in line with regulations, and sanctioning those found culpable.

“We hereby wish to emphasize that the credibility, stability, and integrity of our tertiary education institutions depend on strict adherence to due process in the appointment of their leadership,” Akpan declared. “Any attempt to circumvent these procedures threatens institutional autonomy, meritocracy, and accountability.”

The Centre vowed to continue monitoring developments closely and to take all legitimate steps necessary to defend the integrity of tertiary education management in Nigeria. (Daily Trust)