By Adesakin Adefemi
The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have joined forces to investigate vice-chancellors of public universities accused of corruption and mismanagement of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocations.
ASUU raised concerns over the weak supervision of vice-chancellors in implementing TETFund projects, noting that some have misused the funds intended for their institutions. The union’s president, Chris Piwuna, spoke at the public presentation of 72 TETFund-sponsored academic textbooks in Abuja on Wednesday.
Piwuna stated that despite the huge allocations to universities, many have not utilized the funds effectively, with some mismanaging them or using them for purposes other than what they were meant for. He emphasized that ASUU will turn its searchlight on the vice-chancellors and universities soon, demanding accountability for the funds.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed support for ASUU’s planned scrutiny of vice-chancellors, especially regarding TETFund disbursements. He noted that several vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts are running institutions like empires, and it’s essential to ensure fiduciary responsibilities are met and they are held accountable.
TETFund is a statutory intervention agency established to support public tertiary education in Nigeria. The agency provides funding for infrastructure, instructional materials, equipment, research, and academic staff development across public institutions.
The alliance between the Federal Government and ASUU aims to strengthen oversight and accountability in the management of TETFund allocations. ASUU has been calling for stronger oversight and accountability in the implementation of TETFund interventions, citing concerns over the pace of project execution and adherence to guidelines.
The investigation into corruption among vice-chancellors is expected to promote transparency and accountability in the management of TETFund allocations. It will also help to ensure that the funds are utilized for the intended purposes, ultimately improving the quality of education in Nigerian universities.
The move has been welcomed by stakeholders in the education sector, who believe it’s a step in the right direction towards ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
The investigation is expected to cover all public universities in Nigeria, and ASUU has promised to provide evidence of corruption and mismanagement to the authorities.
