Staff members of the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM) have accused the institution’s management of intimidation, arbitrary downgrading, and financial mismanagement, claiming the college has operated in violation of its founding law for years.

Speaking anonymously to SaharaReporters for fear of retaliation, one employee traced the crisis back to 2010, when the National Universities Commission (NUC) shut down the institution due to irregularities, though its clinic continued operations.

The worker explained that the Federal Ministry of Health took over the college’s administration in 2010 and set up an interim administrative body intended to reposition the institution within six months.

“But that interim body continued until 2022. All they did was draft budgets for cars, medical and office equipment, and misappropriate the funds, while we lack proper office accommodation,” the source alleged.

The staff member further claimed that workers had to contribute personal funds to support the bill establishing the college, passed into law in 2022. However, instead of appointing a substantive Provost as mandated, the Ministry allegedly installed a Sole Administrator.

“Rather than appointing a Provost, they brought in a Sole Administrator contrary to the College’s Establishment Act. He faulted nearly everything the College had achieved and reversed our career progression,” the employee said.

The staff alleged that the Sole Administrator downgraded senior employees while promoting junior officers above them. One worker stated:

“He demoted me from CONHESS 13 to CONHESS 11 and made juniors my superiors.”

Additional grievances included the recruitment of retirees into key positions without due process. According to the staff member, the Sole Administrator, along with heads of administration and accounts, are all retirees appointed without proper recruitment procedures.

Staff also claimed that after a public hearing into the crisis, the situation worsened. They accused the Sole Administrator of attempting to influence the House of Representatives to suppress the report, maintaining that those who do not align with management are being deliberately frustrated to force resignations.

“The refusal to appoint a substantive head appears deliberate. The parastatal is being used as a conduit to misappropriate funds year after year,” said one employee.

When contacted, the Sole Administrator denied wrongdoing. He defended his tenure, saying:

“My mandate is to ensure the college runs properly. Despite over 15 years of existence, the college has yet to produce a single set of students, but salaries for over 120 staff have been paid while irregularities persisted.”

On the claims of downgrading, he said, “That is not true. Staff were asked for practical experience during screening but failed to provide it. Many rarely come to work, and irregularities abound.”

Regarding alleged financial impropriety, he added, “The alleged vehicle purchases are false. I only took over in 2024 and was not involved in budgets for 2023 or 2024. The 2025 budget shows no such allocation.”