Presidential Visitation Panel of the University of Abuja observed that tertiary institutions give priority to Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) at the expense of educational quality.
The chairman of the panel to University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), Mr Bukar Aji, who spoke on behalf of chairmen of visitation panels of 88 institutions disclosed this in Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari had last April 13 inaugurated the visitation panels of 38 federal universities, four inter-university centres, 25 polytechnics and 21 colleges of education to review the performance of institutions.
Aji said at the inauguration of the panels, the committees took it upon themselves to address all 11 terms of reference given to the panel.
He said the panel took time to see the extent of the white paper of the last visitation panel and observed areas of disappointment.
He added that with the approval of the last white paper at the University of Abuja, only about 45 per cent of the recommendations were implemented which may not be a pass mark.
From the recommendations that came out from their reports, they also observed that the priorities given to Internally Generated Revenue is affecting the quality in various institutions.
He therefore, noted that the Federal Government had invested and is still investing in tertiary institutions while calling for an improved quality to justify government’s expenditure on institutions.
Responding, the minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu, promised that adequate attention would be given to the recommendations of the committees.
The minister, represented by the minister of state for education, Professor Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, said that a sub-committee would be set up to look into the white paper that would be drawn from the recommendations of the reports, which will address the challenges thus identified in the tertiary institutions in the past years.
It is hoped to mitigate the incessant friction between the staff unions of the institutions and government, and result in the much desired industrial harmony.
Culled from the Leadership News Nigeria
