Vice-Chancellor Ibrahim Umar rejects underpayment allegations as Moddibo Adama University defends contract salary policy in Yola

What began as an internal disagreement over pay has now spilled into the public space, drawing attention to how Nigerian universities manage contract staff.

A professor at Moddibo Adama University, Yola, raised concerns about being shortchanged, but the university leadership insists there was no wrongdoing.

Professor Raises Claims of Significant Underpayment

Martins Fabunmi, a professor in the Department of Education Foundations, alleged that the university owed him more than ₦4 million in unpaid earnings.

According to documents reviewed by journalists, Fabunmi was employed on a one-year contract running from November 2024 to November 2025.

He claimed that his salaries for the 2024/2025 academic year, alongside his Teaching Practice supervision allowance, were consistently lower than expected.

Fabunmi calculated the total shortfall at ₦4,024,168.70, citing monthly reductions of ₦349,327.25 from January to October 2025, ₦321,443.79 in November, ₦78,972.40 in December 2024, and an unpaid supervision claim of ₦130,480.

Efforts to Resolve the Matter Internally

Fabunmi explained that he initially sought clarification from the Vice-Chancellor, who asked for his service records and then referred him to the bursary department.

Despite these steps, he said no solution emerged.

In a formal complaint, Fabunmi described the situation as financially distressing, noting that it influenced his decision not to renew his contract.

He requested a refund of what he described as unjustified deductions from his salary across the duration of his appointment.

He also pointed out that in December 2024, his salary was paid in full except for pension and housing deductions, which he believed were applied incorrectly.

Based on this, he appealed for all deductions within the contract period to be refunded, describing the issue as a breach of contract.

University Explains Pay Adjustment Policy

The university responded through an official letter dated November 5, 2025, signed by Senior Assistant Registrar Nicholas Izehi.

In that correspondence, management made it clear that the reduced payments were not accidental.

According to the university, a comprehensive review of remuneration for all contract staff took effect in January 2025.

As a result, salaries for contract employees were adjusted to 60 percent of the previous rate, a policy that applied across the board and not to Fabunmi alone.

The institution emphasized that the decision was a management-wide policy and thanked the professor for his understanding and academic contributions.

Vice-Chancellor Dismisses Breach of Contract Claims

Speaking later, Professor Ibrahim Umar, the Vice-Chancellor of Moddibo Adama University, firmly rejected allegations of underpayment or contract violation.

He maintained that Fabunmi knowingly accepted the terms of his appointment and worked under those conditions for the full year.

Umar explained that when the professor raised his concerns, he was told plainly that the salary structure was a management decision affecting all contract staff.

According to the VC, Fabunmi was free to decline the terms if he was dissatisfied but instead chose to accept the appointment and complete his contract.

From the university’s perspective, Fabunmi was placed correctly on the professor salary scale at Step 1, consistent with how other contract professors were treated.

Additional Benefits Highlighted by Management

Beyond salary matters, the Vice-Chancellor revealed that the university provided Fabunmi with free accommodation throughout his contract.

He stressed that this benefit covered housing, electricity, and water, offered as a mark of respect for his academic standing.

Umar argued that when these benefits are considered alongside his salary, the claim of underpayment does not hold.

He also noted that Fabunmi was just one staff member among more than 2,000 employees at the institution.

Criticism of Taking the Dispute to the Media

University management also expressed disappointment that the issue was made public rather than handled through established administrative channels.

Umar pointed out that the civil service provides multiple avenues for resolving disputes, including management committees, the university council, the Federal Complaints Commission, and anti-corruption agencies such as the ICPC.

He advised that if Fabunmi believed his grievances remained unresolved, legal action was also an option.

According to the VC, airing internal management issues in the media was not the appropriate first step.

What’s Next?

With both sides standing firm, the dispute now raises broader questions about contract employment terms, transparency in pay reviews, and how academic institutions handle grievances.

Whether the matter moves to a formal complaint body or the courts remains to be seen.

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