FG constitutes 10-man committee to investigate petitions against some tertiary institutions

Federal Government on Thursday constituted a 10-man ad hoc committee to investigate various forms of petitions bothering on alleged wrong doings levelled against some tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Adamu Adamu, minister of education, at the inauguration of the ad hoc committee in Abuja, said: “The ministry decided to set up 10 ad hoc fact-finding committees in response to petitions received from different stakeholders, within and outside the institutions, with variety of allegations bothering on irregularities, abuse of due process, mismanagement, immorality, fraud and corruption.”

Adamu said some of the allegations and counter-claims made against the governing councils and managements of some higher institutions in the country had created mis-trust and hostility, and had further hindered the smooth conduct of academic activities to the detriment of students.

According to Adamu, the constituted panels are to be guided by the following terms of reference: “To carefully study and investigate all allegations contained in the petitions against the institutions or individuals; to seek to determine the veracity of the claims and counter-claims by considering the circumstances and talking to as many witness as possible; to meet and interview the writers of the petitions and establish the basis of their claims; to also ensure fair hearing by meeting with, and listening to explanations from all those against whom the petitions have been written.”

Furthermore, the terms of reference include: “To investigate the application of funds, particularly the special grants and loans meant for specific projects; investigate the procedure of contracts awards, admission processes, as well as appointments and promotions; to recommend appropriate penalties in each case and to give any other recommendations incidental to the assignment and deemed appropriate.”

The minister had directed that the committee commence work immediately and submit reports of their findings within the next 10 days, while assuring that the petitioners had been made to swear an affidavit on the various petitions to authenticate the various claims.

The higher institutions in focus, according to the minister, are: Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State; University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Federal University Kashere, Gombe State; University of Abuja; University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State; Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State; Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State; Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State, and University of Calabar, Cross River State.

Chairmen of the ad hoc committees include: Magaji Garba of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria; Popoola of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife; Sadiq. Isa Radda of Bayero University, Kano; Sulaiman Abdul, of Abubakar Tafewa Balewa University, Bauchi; Toyin Olorode of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

Others are: Godwin Nsofor of Federal University of Technology Minna; Andrew Haruna of ATBU, Bauchi; Sech Accra Jaja of University of Port Harcourt; Idowu Awopetu and Salihu Abubakar of ABU, Zaria.

Responding on behalf of the constituted committee, Salihu Abubaka assured that the committee would maintain its stand as a fact-finding committee and not a faultfinding committee in the discharge of its duties to various parties.