The Federal Government has inaugurated the recently constituted Governing Councils for federal tertiary institutions in the country.
The Councils inaugurated were those of federal universities, federal polytechnics and federal colleges of education.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, while inaugurating the councils in Abuja on Thursday, urged council members to discharge their responsibility responsibly.
Mamman called on the councils to abide by the existing laws guiding their institutions to ensure good management of their institutions.
He emphasised the need to adhere to the laws and regulations that establish and govern the various institutions.
According to him, compliance with these legal frameworks would ensure that these institutions operate with integrity and accountability.
Mamman said: “As Governing Councils, one of your responsibilities is to ensure good management, healthy growth and development of your Institutions.
“You should be abreast of the current Acts of your various institutions, government policies, White Papers (if any), Circulars, Gazettes and other relevant documents relating to the institutions.
“One of the challenges that Governing Councils regularly face during their tenure is the appointment of Principal Officers.
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“As a Council, you must ensure that proper attention and priority are given to the relevant Acts of the institutions and government guidelines for the process of such appointments as well as ensure fairness and transparency.”
The Minister further advised the Councils to adhere to the ideals of transparency and probity guiding their dealings, while also urging them to encourage responsible unionism in their institutions.
Mamman added: “Governing Councils should encourage responsible unionism in their respective institutions while arresting the problems of cultism and drug abuse by students.
“Effective strategies should be put in place by Councils for early detection and eradication of social vices such as sexual harassment, theft, extortion and inducement.”
He advised that the councils should address numerous challenges facing the tertiary institutions ranging from proliferation of illegal institutions to gender imbalance and certificate racketeering, among others.
According to him, the government cannot meet all the needs of the institutions so the management of institutions must join forces to help the government.
Mamman pleaded with the councils to collaborate with the private sector to generate funds for the institutions, noting that the insufficient funding had led to education decline.
In a goodwill message, the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idris Bugaje, welcomed the newly inaugurated council members.
Bugaje urged the councils to embrace the fortune of their various institutions and “think outside the box” to create innovative ways of generating funds for their institutions.
While also advising the council members to call the various union groups to order, he explained that putting the unions “in line” would fast track the achievement of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
Responding on behalf of Governing councils, the Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Chief Wole Olanipekun, appealed to the Federal Government to help universities to be more productive.
Olanipekun said universities would only be productive if allowed to manage its internally generated revenue rather than sending the monies to the Treasury Single Accounts of the government.
He, therefore, charged his colleagues to build the various institutions while also avoiding any form of rancour between them and the university’s management.