The Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa State, has defended the termination of the appointment of Dr Ramla Muhammad AKamal, an academic staff member of the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, saying the decision was taken in accordance with its Conditions of Service and due process.

The university’s position was contained in a statement issued in Dutse on Sunday by the Acting Director of Public Relations, Mr Abdullahi Yahaya Bello, in response to allegations by Kamal of breach of employment rights, defamation and denial of fair hearing.

According to the university, Kamal was employed as a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology on May 25, 2018, and was subsequently granted a two-year study fellowship at the University of Putra Malaysia to pursue a master’s degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology.

The institution said the fellowship was approved under a self-sponsored arrangement with salary, despite Kamal allegedly not having completed the period ordinarily required to qualify for such a privilege.

FUD said she signed a Study Fellowship Bond committing her to return to the university after completing the programme and serve for the prescribed period applicable to officers who received salary during their fellowship.

The university said it later approved an extension of her fellowship, with her expected resumption date moved to November 10, 2022.

It, however, alleged that Kamal failed to return to duty after the approved period expired.

According to the management, a staff audit conducted in 2024 prompted the university to direct her to resume duty, but she instead requested the suspension of her obligations under the Study Fellowship Bond.

The request was rejected, the university said, adding that the Head of Department of Pharmacology subsequently advised her to return to duty in accordance with the bond.

FUD said her continued failure to resume duty led to the commencement of an internal disciplinary process, during which she was issued a formal query.

In her response, according to the university, Kamal explained that she was in the United States awaiting residency documentation to enable her to pursue further professional training in Clinical Pharmacology.

The university said she was subsequently given additional opportunities to regularise her position and appeared virtually before an Investigative Committee on two occasions.

The committee, which was constituted to examine cases involving officers who failed to resume duty after study fellowships, reportedly advised her to return to the university and pursue any further requests through the appropriate administrative channels.

FUD said Kamal nevertheless failed to return, prompting the referral of the matter to the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee (SSDC).

According to the university, the SSDC invited her on two occasions to appear and present her defence, but she failed to honour the invitations.

The committee subsequently considered the available records and made recommendations to the Governing Council in line with the university’s regulations.

The university said the Bursary Department was also directed to calculate the salaries paid to Kamal during the period under review.

The amount was put at ₦16,375,817.

FUD maintained that the termination of Kamal’s appointment was not arbitrary but followed established administrative and disciplinary procedures governing staff who breach the conditions attached to study fellowships. (The Nation)