The Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, has proceeded with its 2025 staff recruitment exercise, shortlisting candidates for aptitude tests scheduled to hold later this month, even as it continues to dispel rumours of secret interview invitations.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the institution, led by Provost Dr Ali Boderi, had in July 2025 advertised vacancies for academic and non-academic positions — including that of Assistant Lecturer — in a newspaper publication. The recruitment, which attracted hundreds of applications nationwide, has reportedly reached the screening phase.
Earlier this month, the college management issued a public disclaimer to clarify misinformation circulating on social media, alleging that the school had begun issuing interview invitations.
The clarification read in parts: “The attention of the Management of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, has been drawn to a rumour currently circulating on social media and other informal platforms, alleging that the College is inviting applicants for interviews following the recently concluded online employment application exercise.”
The college described the claim as “false, misleading, and not emanating from the institution.”
Continuing, the disclaimer noted: “Members of the public, particularly applicants, are hereby advised to disregard such unfounded claims in their entirety.”
Signed by Gana Abdul, Overseeing Director of Public Relations and Protocol, the statement reiterated the institution’s commitment to “a transparent and merit-based recruitment procedure,” warning applicants against falling for “fake news, misinformation, and fraudulent individuals purporting to represent the College.”
Meanwhile, it informed applicants that the initial clarification, the College has now issued official notifications to shortlisted candidates, inviting them to sit for an aptitude test slated for Thursday, October 27, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the institution’s CBT Centre in Gombe.
A copy of the letter in possession of PERISCOPE NIGERIA further confirmed the test details, stating, “Sequel to your application for the staff position published in Daily Trust on 21st July 2025, I am directed to inform you that you have been successfully shortlisted for an Aptitude Test.”
The letter, signed by Dahiru Gurama, Principal Administrative Registrar (Establishment and Protocol), added that “only candidates who successfully pass the Aptitude Test will be considered for the interview scheduled to hold on 28th and 29th October 2025.”
Candidates were further instructed to bring along relevant credentials, including evidence of career progression where applicable, and to log in using their application ID.
Responding to questions about alleged secret invitations and irregularities in the process, Bappah Abdu, of the College’s Information Unit, told Arewa PUNCH that the recruitment remains open, transparent, and merit-driven.
“There’s nothing secret about the whole process,” Abdu said.
“I assure you, everything is fair and transparent. The college will send invitation emails to all qualified candidates to come for the aptitude test and interview. Nobody will be left out.”
He added that the management’s earlier disclaimer was to safeguard applicants from misinformation and fraudulent activities, not to suspend the process.
More findings by our correspondent showed that the recruitment exercise seeks to fill approved academic and non-academic positions as part of the federal government’s effort to strengthen manpower in colleges of education.
The College’s official recruitment portal, as of Sunday, displayed a notice indicating that no new applications were being accepted — suggesting that the exercise has reached an advanced stage.
Sources within the institution said the Provost, Dr Boderi, who is serving a second tenure, has maintained a strict policy of merit and openness in recruitment to ensure fairness and credibility.
“Dr Boderi has emphasised that recruitment must be transparent and competitive. The aptitude test is just one layer of ensuring that only qualified applicants proceed to the interview,” one senior academic official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak.
A staff member who pleaded anonymity insisted on his allegation that those who got the secret invitations were those connected to the authorities.
“It’s them-them. The process was not put through merit. It’s about who you know, who your father is, and all that, most poor men children didn’t get their invitations. This is not fair,” the staff lamented.
He maintained that with the aptitude tests and interviews expected to conclude by the end of October, successful applicants are anticipated to receive appointment letters before the end of the year.
