The Federal Government says it will immediately begin to investigate universities operating multiple accounts in violation of the Treasury Single Account policy of the government in order to checkmate corrupt practices in the nation’s universities, adding that concrete efforts would be made to protect whistleblowers in the country as part of the ongoing anti- corruption crusade.
The government also said it intends to find an alternative means of sourcing funds for the revitalisation of infrastructure in the universities. , while the office of the Accountant General of the Federation is to immediately commence the process of investigating universities that have since maintained multiple accounts.
This was part of the resolution reached after over nine hours conciliatory meeting between striking non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities and the Federal Ministry of Education brokered by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.
The non-teaching staff made up of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union and National Association of Academic Technologists had embarked on indefinite strike action on Monday, September 11, to compel government to honour its commitment to them.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige, said: “The Federal Ministry of Education is to ensure academics stick to their teachings and research and stop doing functions of administering the universities
“The Federal Ministry of Education and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation also agreed to monitor the internal revenue generated by the universities to curb mass corruption and ensure transparency.
“The university administration should also operate the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the union also altered the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to investigate cases of universities that are still operating multiple accounts and the meeting agreed on that.
“We also agreed that government should expedite action and send visitation panels to federal universities that have not been visited and revisit the previous visitation panels for the purpose of implementing their recommendations.
“Again, on whistle blowing which is the new anti-corruption policy of this administration, government agreed with the unions that the whistle blowers should be protected.”
The minister added: “On the issue of CONTIS 14 and CONTIS 15 for technologists, the technology union NAAT should provide the Federal Ministry of Education with information that would assist the ministry to develop appropriate scheme of service for the new cadre.
“That NAAT and the Federal Ministry of Education should work with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to get the necessary approval for the National Council of Establishment within the year 2017.”
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