FG inaugurated 19 varsity Governing Councils, warns against conflict
By Rosemary Ogbonnaya
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has urged the newly inaugurated Governing Councils of Federal Universities and Inter- University Centres to identify their functions, powers and privileges as a council, and avoid situations of conflict in discharging their duties.
Adamu gave this advice at the inauguration ceremony of the Councils in Abuja on Thursday.
The Minister urged the councils to familiarise themselves with the specific law establishing their University or Centre as well as other relevant laws of the Federation.
He advised them to be guided by the Universities (Miscellaneous provisions) Act of 1993 and its various amendments of (2003 and 2012).
Speaking further he said, “I want to, particularly, draw your attention to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007. Prior to the enactment of this Act, the Governing Council of each University was responsible for procurement matters, through the Council’s Tenders Board. However, with PPA 2007, the Chief Executives of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDA, took over the responsibility for procurement matters. Thus, in the University, the Vice-Chancellor and his/her Management are responsible for procurement, while in the Centres, the Director-General and his/her Management teams are in charge of procurement.
“The Chief Executive is, however, expected to brief the Governing Council regularly on all procurements, as it is done on all financial and other matters. All Chairmen and Members of the Governing Councils need to take due cognizance of this, as it had, in the past, led to unnecessary frictions between the Councils Managements of some Universities.”
According to him, Council shall be the governing body of the University with powers of general control and superintendence over the policy, finances, and properties of the University.
Adamu disclosed that the recently constituted Visitation Panels have completed their assignments and will soon submit reports in two separate volumes, covering the periods: January 2011-December 2015, and January 2016- December 2020, respectively.
He explained that as soon as government received their reports, it would study them and issue white papers, the recommendations of which would guide Councils and Management on how to improve their systems and services by taking necessary steps to address the lapses and weaknesses identified by the Visitation Panels.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed congratulated the Councils, reminding them that the progress of these universities will henceforth become their shared burden and responsibility.
Rasheed said that Commission expects the new Councils to partner with it in ensuring that their institutions thrive to be Centres of knowledge production, human development and the direly needed reputational capital.
In his remarks, the chairman, Bayero University Kano, Udoma Udo Udoma appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing them to serve the nation, promising that the councils would deliver.