A leadership crisis is rapidly unfolding at Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia, threatening to plunge the institution into administrative chaos and erode public trust.
The crisis stems from 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. The directive mandated her to hand over to the next most senior principal officer, excluding members of the Governing Council. However, this instruction became a flashpoint when Dr. Kotso handed over to Dr. Nurudeen Muazu Maifata, the Polytechnic Librarian, sparking outrage over what many described as an illegitimate succession.
Acting Rector’s Tenure Sparks Legal Concerns
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 extended stay 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, a clause observers argue is now being blatantly ignored.
Disputed Recruitment Process for Substantive Rector
Tensions escalated further 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.
However, academic staff claim 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.
Search Team Marginalized, Qualified Applicants Disqualified
In accordance with statutory procedures, a Search Team composed of Chief Lecturers was constituted to oversee the selection process. However, insiders say the team was sidelined by the Governing Council, which unilaterally shortlisted and interviewed candidates—an act many argue violates the institution’s enabling law.
In protest, 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.
To the dismay of many, qualified applicants—including two former Deputy Rectors and a long-serving Chief Lecturer now a professor at Nasarawa State University—were disqualified. Some of these candidates had previously been shortlisted by a former Council for the Rector’s position.
“This magnitude of injustice is unacceptable in an academic environment,” lamented a lecturer. “Rules must be followed. You cannot disqualify qualified candidates just to pave way for your favourite.”
Controversial List Submitted to Governor
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 third candidate is Dr. Patrick E. Kigbu, an Industrial Chemist and Chief Lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic. He previously participated in the selection process that led to Dr. Kotso’s appointment.
Allegations of Victimization and Power Abuse
In a separate development, eight Chief Lecturers who submitted a petition following their opposition to the recruitment process alleged victimisation. Four of them, who held directorial roles, were abruptly removed from office. Their removal letters, obtained by this reporter, were signed directly by Dr. Maifata—bypassing the Registrar, the appropriate channel for such administrative actions.
Multiple letters of complaint have been submitted by unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) IMAP Lafia Chapter, SSANIP, and the ASUP National Body, calling for the immediate re- advertisement of the positions of the Rector and registrar adhere to NBTE template strictly in other to have a transparent selection process. So far, the Governing Council has remained unyielding.
Low Morale and a Campus on Edge
Since November 2024, staff morale has significantly deteriorated. Both academic and non-academic personnel are increasingly anxious about the institution’s future, with many now calling for urgent government intervention.
One lecturer highlighted further violations, citing the case of the Director of Information and Protocol, Wakeel Muktar, who is due for retirement by july 2025. “By Gazetted law, non-teaching staff retire at 60. Yet the Registrar advert pegs the age limit at 59. This inconsistency further undermines the legitimacy of the process,” since the present council is using the gazetted law as against the principal law which state 65 years for both staff" a lecturer noted.
A Call to Action
Amid growing unrest, stakeholders within the Polytechnic are urging the Nasarawa State Government to restore order and credibility by 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.
Staff and concerned observers are also calling on the State House of Assembly to revisit and amend the institution’s enabling law to prevent future abuse.
Until transparency is restored and legality upheld, Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic risks descending into deeper crisis, with grave implications for its academic mission and public image.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Governing Council Chairman of the Polytechnic Professor Sunusi Liman was unsuccessful.
