…Warns councils against interference in varsity administration

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA—THE Federal Government yesterday warned newly inaugurated Governing Councils of 23 federal universities against interfering in the day to day administration of the universities.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who gave the warning while inaugurating members of the governing councils, said government would not fail to sanction any member who derailed from the mandate given to him.

He noted that funding had become a great challenge to the smooth operation of universities but advised members to look inward and explore the opportunity of engaging the alumni of the universities as it was done in other countries.

PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER FEC MEETING 14. Minister of Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, SSAP Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu and Minister of water Resources Alhaji Suleiman Adamu as President Buhari presides over first 2017 FEC Meeting at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. JAN 4 2017

He also warned against reckless employment of staff without compliance with approved budgetary ratio for personnel cost.

The minister said:  “At this point, it is necessary to point out some areas of potential conflicts and pitfalls encountered by governing councils which, in some instances, had necessitated government intervention and the institution of appropriate penalty, including the dissolution of such councils in line with Section 2A of the Universities (Miscellaneous provisions) (amendment) Act 2003.”

Some of the areas of conflicts Adamu warned against include unwholesome practices in the award of contracts in defiance of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act (2007); sharp practices and allegations of bribery in the appointment of principal officers of the university without regards to due process and due diligence, thereby imposing incompetent and inexperienced persons on the university system.

Others are arbitrary approval and payment of allowances for council members outside those approved by the government to the extent of arm twisting the university management to pay those unapproved allowances; convening council meetings more frequently than what is approved in the books,   minimum of four and maximum of eight meetings annually, among other.

He also told them to be guided by the fact that governance and management were two distinct responsibilities in the university system.

The Minister stated that the National Universities Commission, NUC, would organise a retreat by July to keep them abreast of their roles and expectations, noted that the task of the governing councils was not an easy one.

He said the executive had taken the resolution to remove courses that had nothing to do with specialised programmes as in the University of Agriculture.

But the striking out of some courses from the universities of agriculture without recourse to the Act that established the universities and the amendment of the act drew the ire of chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Aminu Suleiman.

He insisted that there must be dialogue and wide consultations among all the stakeholders and not something to be done by fiat.