KANOPOLY: Bello breaks silence on Registrar appointment u-turn, claims four-year tenure renewal

The Registrar of Kano State Polytechnic, Alhaji Mukhtar Ibrahim Bello, has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding his position, claiming that the institution’s Governing Council approved a four-year renewal of his tenure before the Kano State Government announced the appointment of a replacement.

Bello, who spoke in an interview with ‘The Historica Nigeria’, said his initial five-year tenure, which began in January 2021, expired in January 2026. He explained that he had formally notified the Governing Council and the Ministry of Higher Education of his intention to leave office but was subsequently asked by both the ministry and the then council chairman to remain pending the processing of his renewal.

According to him, political developments and changes in the Governing Council’s leadership delayed the process until August 2026, when the council reportedly approved a second term of four years.

He alleged that following the council’s decision, some individuals supplied misleading information to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, creating the impression that his tenure had ended without the possibility of renewal.

Bello linked the alleged misinformation to the subsequent appointment of Malam Magaji Rabi’u Garun-Danga as his replacement, a development that was later reportedly reversed, leading to his return to office.

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He maintained that the council’s reported approval formed the basis of his continued stay as Registrar, although he did not provide documentary evidence during the interview to independently establish the resolution or the circumstances surrounding the appointment reversal.

Dispute over tenure and appointment

Recounting the events, Bello said he had initially prepared to leave office after completing his first five-year term but was persuaded to remain while his renewal was being considered.

He said the ministry and the former Governing Council chairman communicated their decisions for him to continue in office pending the completion of the process.

The Registrar attributed the delay partly to changes in government personnel and the replacement of the council’s former chairman. He said the matter was eventually considered at a Governing Council meeting in August 2026, where members approved a further four-year term.

Bello said the announcement of Garun-Danga’s appointment therefore came as a surprise, as he believed the council had already approved his continued stay in office.

Administrative tensions and the Rector’s role

Beyond the appointment controversy, Bello disclosed that there had been underlying administrative tensions between his office and that of the Rector, Dr Abubakar Umar Farouk, although he described their relationship as outwardly cordial.

He explained that the Registrar’s responsibilities include staff administration, enforcement of institutional regulations and advising management on compliance with established rules, while executive decisions and financial approvals rest with the appropriate management authorities.

Bello alleged that disagreements sometimes arose when he insisted on strict adherence to institutional regulations. He also claimed that some individuals around the Rector influenced decisions by presenting information which, in his view, did not always reflect the actual situation.

He further alleged that matters discussed during official engagements were sometimes presented differently elsewhere, contributing to misunderstandings within the institution.

Financial management and revenue concerns

The Registrar also raised concerns about revenue collection and spending priorities at the polytechnic, estimating its enrolment at about 11,000 regular students and 4,000 part-time students.

He argued that the student population and associated fees should provide a reasonable revenue base for meeting some of the institution’s operational obligations, while acknowledging that he did not have access to its detailed financial accounts.

Bello expressed concern over cash-based payment arrangements, advocating greater reliance on digital transactions to improve accountability and revenue tracking.

He alleged that some students had encountered difficulties confirming payments or having transactions reflected in their accounts, potentially creating discrepancies in institutional records.

He identified staff salaries, allowances for part-time lecturers, examination expenses and materials for students’ practical sessions as essential obligations that should receive priority in the institution’s spending.

Calls for government intervention

Bello identified the Governing Council as a key channel for addressing institutional concerns with the Kano State Government, maintaining that his responsibility was to discharge his duties within the limits of his office and advise management on administrative matters.

He also stressed that the polytechnic should be managed in accordance with its enabling laws and regulations.

Meanwhile, before Bello granted the interview, ‘The Historica Nigeria’ had visited the Rector, Dr Abubakar Umar Farouk, to seek his response to allegations concerning the institution’s leadership and administration, including issues surrounding the closure of the polytechnic’s microfinance bank and the Registrar’s tenure. During the engagement, the Rector disputed some of the claims raised.

The visit also took place against the backdrop of a dispute over unpaid allowances owed to lecturers of the School of Continuing Education and Postgraduate Studies (SCEPS), which had led to the suspension of academic activities. The Rector notified the online platform that he settled the outstanding allowances to the affected lecturers. The payment addressed the immediate dispute over their entitlements, although other concerns raised during the engagement remained unresolved.