FUDMA to deploy qualified non-academic staff to classroom, says VC
The Vice Chancellor of Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Prof. Mohammed Khalid Othman says will realign its workforce by deploying qualified non-academic staff members to the teaching cadre.
Prof. Othman also announced that the university would move most of its faculties to its permanent site from the beginning of the next academic session.
The Vice Chancellor made this known during an interactive session with the Chairman and Members of the Committee of Provosts, Deans and Directors, held at the Senate Chambers of the University’s main campus.
He reiterated his commitment to the full implementation of his 5-Point Agenda, designed to fast track the growth and development of the university.
The 5-point Agenda includes boosting Internally Generated Revenue; creation of the Centre for the Study of Hausa Language and Culture; the enhancement of security; ensuring transparency and accountability, and capacity building for all staff.
On the realignment of the staff, Othman said a staff audit has been conducted to facilitate the process.
“All the non-teaching staff with desirable higher teaching qualifications, especially the Technologists, would be redeployed and redesignated to the teaching cadre”, he said, stressing that “the aim is to redress the shortage we are experiencing in critical programmes and departments”.
Prof. Othman noted with delight the smooth movement to the main campus thus far but disclosed plans to move most faculties, departments, and the central administration by the next academic session.
“Students hostels currently lying idle at the Main campus, are undergoing major rehabilitation, preparatory to the movement,” he said, adding that only few facilities and departments are to be left to continue operating in the temporary campus.
According to him, the Main campus of the University, with its monumental edifices and facilities, coupled with the Solar power project capable of providing enough electricity to the campus and surrounding villages, is conducive for teaching, learning, research and community service.
He said the university management, under his leadership, “intends to utilise all available facilities on both campuses, to change FUDMA’s narrative for the better.”
Prof. Othman also disclosed “plans to institute a mentor-mentee system”, under which “all Graduate Assistants, Assistant Lecturers and Lecturers II, would be assigned to the Senior Lecturers and above, with the view to ensure proper mentoring”.
He further said that the university will merge some Directorates and Centres to not only avoid duplicity but also enhance effectiveness. ”
The Vice Chancellor emphasised that university administration should not be seen as a source of patronage but as a service to all stakeholders and the larger society.
In this respect, he said all directorates and centres must contribute significantly to the attainment of the institution’s goals and objectives.
On the earlier decision to disburse monthly imprest to the faculties, directorates, departments, and centres as of when due, the Vice Chancellor assured that the Bursary department is working assiduously to address the issue.
He added that the payment of responsibility allowance to all deserving officers would also be addressed as soon as the 2026 budget is passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President.
Participants at the meeting, attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Suleiman; the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Elizabeth Ihugh Yecho; the Registrar, Dr. Musa Ajiya; the Bursar, Abubakar Muhammad Gafai; the University Librarian, Dr. Ukashatu Hamza Musa; Provosts, Deans, and Directors, interacted freely and discussed a wide range of issues and challenges confronting the university.
They also offered possible solutions on the way forward for the growth and development of FUDMA.
At the end of the interactive session, the participants renewed their commitment to the task of taking the university to greater heights.
