FG extends probe to federal varsities

The gale of probe sweeping through the country has hit the ivory towers as the federal government has placed 10 tertiary institutions in the country under investigation over allegations of corruption and mismanagement of resources by the management of the Governing Councils.

Ripples was reliably informed that there are series of petitions against the affected institutions.

The institutions being investigated include: University of Abuja, FCT; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State; University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Federal University, Gombe State and University of Calabar, Cross River State.

Others include: Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, and Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu gave this indication in Abuja on Thursday when he announced the setup of a 10-man Fact-finding Committee to investigate some of the allegations in the petitions.

Justifying the need for the committee, he said: “The ministry decided to set up these ten ad hoc fact-finding committees in response to petitions received from different stakeholders within and outside the institutions with variety of allegations bordering on irregularities, abuse of due process, mismanagement, immorality, fraud and corruption, among others.”

Pressed further, he said: “In order to get to the root of the matter and ensure that justice is done, and it is seen to be done, we deemed it necessary to verify the authenticity or otherwise of the claims in these petitions. This verification is the crux of your assignment.

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“These panels are therefore setup in line with this administration’s commitment to promote due process, ensure fairness, entrench accountability and transparency and end impunity in the control and management of public resources and achieve quality governance in our institutions.

“I am sure you are all, no doubt, aware that some of the allegations and counter claims made against the Governing Councils and management of some of our institutions have created mistrust and hostility and hindered the smooth conduct of academic activities to the detriment of students.”

The minister said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to turn around the fortunes of the education sector.

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