The Federal Government on Monday shared N100 billion to the Federal and State universities as balance of the N200 billion revitalisation fund for 2013.
Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, presented the allocation letters to the vice chancellors in Abuja, where he urged them to spend the money according to the NEEDS Assessment report.
The N200 billion was contained in the memorandum of understanding signed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities in December to end the almost six months strike.
The earlier N100 billion had been disbursed by the Governor Gabriel Suswam-led committee that intervened in the dispute before Vice-President Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan waded in.
Independent findings by our correspondent revealed that Federal Universities shared 80 per cent of the money while state shared the remaining 20 per cent.
Based on the NEEDS Assessment Report, there are 27 federal universities as against 34 state universities. Some states have two universities.
Wike at the event announced that the ministry would convene a stakeholders forum at each of the six geopolitical zones for all Federal Government owned tertiary institutions to give account of their stewardship.
He, however, said the exercise would not be an audit of their financial expenditure, but a public sensitisation of what the institutions had done with the allocations.
He said, “It is imperative for the public to know how much government was investing in the country’s tertiary education and correct the impression that it was neglecting the sector.”
The exercise would begin from March 4, with institutions in the North Central Zone meeting at the Federal College of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue state.
The South-South would follow on March 10 at the University of Port-Harcourt, while that of the South-East zone would hold at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka on March 11.
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, would host the North-West zone while institutions in the South-West would converge on University of Ibadan on days yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, Wike told reporters that Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Colleges of Academic Staff Union of Universities would soon suspend their strikes.
He said government was reviewing the situation after ASUP rejected the Federal Government’s proposal.
The minister, who did not give details, however said he would not talk with the press while talks with the unions were ongoing.
“I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag. I know Nigerians are worried, but what is most important is that government is doing something. We are doing something, just be patient,” he said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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So, there are no Federal Universities in the north east?
ReplyDeleteat last u release bcos u sow 2015 is here,stupid idiot nd drunker.
ReplyDeleteThe place of sitting for North Central zone is not Federal College of Agriculture Makurdi as reported but Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi.
ReplyDelete