The Kebbi State government has appointed Professor Ismaila Arzika-Mungadi as sole administrator of Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA). The announcement was made by the state Commissioner for Higher Education, Isha Abubakar-Tunga, during a visit to the university on Saturday. She was accompanied by the acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry. Abubakar-Tunga formally presented Arzika-Mungadi to the university community and directed him to assume full responsibilities as chief executive officer and custodian of the institution.
A meeting held during the visit included former Deputy Vice-Chancellors for Academic and Administration, the former Registrar and Bursar, University Librarian, Deputy Registrar in charge of Establishment, and other senior staff. The commissioner stated that the removal of former principal officers and the dissolution of the governing council followed recommendations from a government-convened visitation panel. "The actions taken by the government were guided by the findings and recommendations of the visitation panel, with the overall objective of repositioning the university for better performance," she said.
Abubakar-Tunga confirmed that all affected officers remain bona fide employees of the university. She added that further decisions on their appointments would be communicated after the return of Governor Dr. Nasir Idris. The relief letters and handover directives issued during the meeting took immediate effect. The commissioner emphasized the need for a seamless transition and urged the university community to foster unity and cooperation.
In his response, Professor Arzika-Mungadi expressed gratitude for the appointment. "I am deeply honoured by this appointment and grateful for the trust placed in me," he said. He called on outgoing officers and staff to collaborate in advancing AFUSTA's academic excellence. The former registrar, speaking for the affected officers, described the changes as an act of divine will, stating, "Whatever that happened is destined by Almighty Allah, and as faithful, we must accept it in good faith."
The same government that dissolved AFUSTA's council for poor performance has left the fate of sacked officers hanging on the return of Governor Nasir Idris. While the university is being repositioned, the uncertainty over the future of former principal officers undermines the claim of administrative stability. The prolonged delay in making decisions affects institutional morale and contradicts the urgency of reform.
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