The crisis of who assumes the position of rector Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia, has taken another dimension as the management of the institution are threatening to plunge the institution into administrative chaos.
Investigation revealed that the leadership crisis erupted over the controversial removal of the former Rector, Dr. Justina Kotso, following the adoption of a white paper issued by an independent panel set up by the Nasarawa State Government.
An independent panel mandated the former rector to hand over to the next most senior principal officer, excluding members of the Governing Council.
The investigation panel report also mandated Dr. Kotso to hand over to Dr. Nurudeen Muazu Maifata, the Polytechnic Librarian, which sparked outrage over what many described as an illegitimate succession.
Records show that Dr. Maifata was appointed Acting Rector for a six-month tenure beginning May 2024. However, he continued in office until March 28, 2025—far beyond the legal term limit.
This long stay in office has been widely condemned as a violation of the Polytechnic’s governing law, which stipulates that an Acting Rector “shall not hold office for more than six (6) months.” The law also prohibits the appointment of a sole administrator, finding has shown.
Some impeachable sources alleged that the crisis escalated more, following the publication of an advertorial on March 13, 2025, by the Polytechnic’s newly constituted Governing Council, chaired by Professor Sunusi Liman, inviting applications for the position of substantive Rector.
Finding further showed that academic staff claimed that the requirements outlined in the advertorial failed to meet both the Polytechnic’s enabling law and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) guidelines.
“The advert called for a minimum of ten years of teaching experience in tertiary institutions, including four years in a Polytechnic. In contrast, the Polytechnic Law mandates 15 years of cognate experience, while NBTE requires 17 years, including 10 in a Polytechnic and at least five years on the rank of Chief Lecturer.
“Lecturers allege that the criteria were deliberately diluted to favour a preferred candidate with just four years of Polytechnic experience.
To abide by the selecting procedures of rector, a search team composed of Chief Lecturers was constituted to oversee the selection process. However, it was alleged that the team was sidelined by the Governing Council, which unilaterally shortlisted and interviewed candidates—an act many argue that it violates the institution’s enabling law.
An investigation further revealed that the Search Team issued a letter dated May 3, 2025, signed by members Abubakar Ibn Umar, Solomon J. Anzene, Bala Zakari Yakubu, and Dr. Martina Pojwan Alexander. The letter, addressed to the Council Chairman and copied to the Nasarawa State Governor and the Commissioner for Education, accused the Council of usurping its role.
“The Committee was not given any applications to screen, nor did it submit any list of candidates to the Governing Council for interview. Hence, in the interest of fairness and justice, we demand the opportunity to carry out our statutory duties,” the letter stated.
It was alleged that despite the mounting controversy, a shortlist of three candidates has been forwarded to the Nasarawa State Governor, who serves as the institution’s Visitor.
Among the nominees is ” Dr. Maifata, whose eligibility is widely disputed. Sources within the registry Department of the Polytechnic allege he joined the Polytechnic as Librarian I on Grade Level 9, bypassing more senior colleagues, and has not attained the requisite 15 years of service. He is also not a Chief Lecturer or its equivalent—a core requirement for the Rector position.
Also on the list is “Professor Musa Dalhatu, a former Senior Lecturer at the Polytechnic and one-time TETFund Desk Officer who was reportedly indicted for misappropriation of funds during Professor Silas Gyar’s administration. Dalhatu is currently affiliated with the Federal University of Lafia but does not meet the legal qualifications for consideration,” the list stated.
Amid growing unrest, stakeholders within the Polytechnic are calling the Nasarawa State Government to restore order and credible re-advertising both the Rector and Registrar positions under proper guidelines—as was recently done at the State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, where the NBTE template was fully adopted.
