The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State Chapter, has expressed concern over recent appointments and administrative processes at the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO), calling for greater transparency, fairness and inclusiveness in the institution’s operations.
In a statement signed by the State Secretary of the organization, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, and made available to journalists on Saturday, May 16, 2026, the group acknowledged the establishment of FUNATO by the Federal Government, describing it as a major educational milestone for the Oke-Ogun region and Oyo State as a whole.
However, MURIC stated that some recent developments within the university have raised concerns among stakeholders regarding equity and representation in the institution’s administrative structure.
According to the statement, several individuals were recently appointed into key academic positions, including deans across different faculties. While recognizing the qualifications and academic competence of the appointees, the group maintained that concerns have emerged regarding the process leading to the appointments and the perceived imbalance in representation.
MURIC also raised questions over the conduct of the resource verification exercise reportedly carried out by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The organization alleged that the exercise lacked adequate transparency and inclusiveness, claiming that it was compressed into a single day with limited communication, thereby excluding many potential participants.
The group further argued that subsequent appointments appeared to have been made largely from a restricted pool of participants involved in the exercise, a situation it said has generated concerns over equal opportunity and fairness.
Additionally, MURIC noted reports suggesting an imbalance in representation across religious lines in the appointment of Deans and Heads of Departments, stressing that federal institutions are expected to reflect the country’s diversity in line with the federal character principle.
The organization emphasized that its concerns were not motivated by bias or favoritism but by a commitment to due process and the principles of justice, equity and inclusiveness necessary for national cohesion and institutional credibility.
Consequently, MURIC called on the Governing Council of FUNATO, the National Universities Commission, the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as traditional rulers and community leaders within Oke-Ogun, to review and investigate the appointments and administrative processes carried out so far in the institution.
The group also stated that it would continue to monitor developments within the university to ensure that the institution remains faithful to its federal mandate and promotes equal opportunities for all.
MURIC concluded by stressing that the future and integrity of the institution should be protected from its formative stage, noting that transparency, inclusiveness and equity remain essential in building a university that reflects unity, excellence and national development.
