 |
| (From left) Adamu, Baffa, Bogoro |
Will TETFund’s
new direction stand?
In March this year, the executive secretary of Tertiary Education Trust
Fund (TETFund), Professor Elias Suleiman Bogoro said Nigerian researchers had
no cause to be poor because the agency would pay more attention to research and
development in the nation’s higher institutions of learning. UJI ABDULLAHI ILIYSAU reports that the
temptation of pecuniary benefits the Fund presents may be the bane of his lofty
ideas.
Fund (TETFund), Professor Elias Suleiman Bogoro said Nigerian researchers had
no cause to be poor because the agency would pay more attention to research and
development in the nation’s higher institutions of learning. UJI ABDULLAHI ILIYSAU reports that the
temptation of pecuniary benefits the Fund presents may be the bane of his lofty
ideas.
Background
TETFund is mandated to keep and manage the money realised from the two
per cent tax on company profits for use by tertiary institutions of learning in
the country. The main areas of TETFund’s
mandate are the provision of physical infrastructure for teaching and learning,
instructional material and equipment, research and publication as well as
academic staff training and development. But as in most Nigerian system, the
agency seems to have abandoned the core mandate of research and development to
providing physical infrastructure in higher schools because it is the area
where money can be siphoned undetected through kick-backs from contractors,
critics said.
per cent tax on company profits for use by tertiary institutions of learning in
the country. The main areas of TETFund’s
mandate are the provision of physical infrastructure for teaching and learning,
instructional material and equipment, research and publication as well as
academic staff training and development. But as in most Nigerian system, the
agency seems to have abandoned the core mandate of research and development to
providing physical infrastructure in higher schools because it is the area
where money can be siphoned undetected through kick-backs from contractors,
critics said.
The executive secretary of TETFund, Professor Bogoro said that very soon
researchers in Nigerian tertiary institutions would have no cause to remain
poor.
researchers in Nigerian tertiary institutions would have no cause to remain
poor.
He stated this in his speech during the inauguration of ad-hoc committee
on Research and Development (R&D) of TETFund in March this year.
on Research and Development (R&D) of TETFund in March this year.
Bogoro said innovative research and its consequent commercialisation is
the driver that moves and nurtures the engine of modern economic growth, thus
it is an important driver of poverty alleviation.
the driver that moves and nurtures the engine of modern economic growth, thus
it is an important driver of poverty alleviation.
“The key measurement parameters for Nigerian Economic Recovery and Growth
Plan (ERGP), the anchor for Nigeria’s economic transformation blueprint is
dependent on Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) . The advancement in SET
is dependent on R&D.
Plan (ERGP), the anchor for Nigeria’s economic transformation blueprint is
dependent on Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) . The advancement in SET
is dependent on R&D.
“Innovative research and its consequent commercialisation is the driver
that moves and nurtures the engine of modern economic growth, thus it is an
important driver of poverty alleviation.
that moves and nurtures the engine of modern economic growth, thus it is an
important driver of poverty alleviation.
“There is ample evidence to show that R&D propelled by higher
education, more than anything else, has contributed to the rise and expansion
of the world knowledge economy.” Bogoro said.
education, more than anything else, has contributed to the rise and expansion
of the world knowledge economy.” Bogoro said.
Bogoro’s move was not unconnected to the fact that when he was reinstated
as the TETFund boss and resumed official duty, he found that the level of research in higher
schools was remarkably low.
as the TETFund boss and resumed official duty, he found that the level of research in higher
schools was remarkably low.
“In spite of the fact that the role of research and development (R&D)
in national development, including leveraging the quality of research and
academic programmes is well known, the level of research and development
infrastructure and productivity in Nigeria remains unacceptably low (0.02 per
cent),” he said.
in national development, including leveraging the quality of research and
academic programmes is well known, the level of research and development
infrastructure and productivity in Nigeria remains unacceptably low (0.02 per
cent),” he said.
He averred that in spite of the fact that R&D is central to a
country’s development, in Nigeria, there is absence of a national platform for
the regulation and strengthening of research and development.
country’s development, in Nigeria, there is absence of a national platform for
the regulation and strengthening of research and development.
“It is in this vein that TETFund, propelled by my vision, continues to
advocate the establishment by law, of a national R&D Foundation that will
ensure a coordinated national framework for the sustenance and implementation
of R&D.
advocate the establishment by law, of a national R&D Foundation that will
ensure a coordinated national framework for the sustenance and implementation
of R&D.
“Such a foundation, when established, shall promote an effective
interface between universities, government and private sector, especially the
industrial subsector of the economy.”
interface between universities, government and private sector, especially the
industrial subsector of the economy.”
The committee Bogoro hurriedly installed has Professor Placid Njoku, an
erudite scholar and one of Africa’s most prominent intellectual and academics
and current president of Nigerian
Institute of Animal Science as chairman;
Professor Ibrahim Katampe, a professor of Chemistry and director for Innovative
and Technology Incubation in the Center for Excellence in Emerging Technologies
(CEET) , Central State University, USA,
as vice chairman, and Mr Temitope Toogun, head of human capital
commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) as member. Other members include prominent
TETFund staff.
erudite scholar and one of Africa’s most prominent intellectual and academics
and current president of Nigerian
Institute of Animal Science as chairman;
Professor Ibrahim Katampe, a professor of Chemistry and director for Innovative
and Technology Incubation in the Center for Excellence in Emerging Technologies
(CEET) , Central State University, USA,
as vice chairman, and Mr Temitope Toogun, head of human capital
commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) as member. Other members include prominent
TETFund staff.
All three have promised to take TETFund R&D assignment with all seriousness for the good
of Nigeria, but stakeholders are worried that the committee might become a
conduit pipe to the agency’s fund.
of Nigeria, but stakeholders are worried that the committee might become a
conduit pipe to the agency’s fund.
Responsibility
abandoned
abandoned
Recently the agency has turned its back on its core mandate which is
research.
research.
Nigerian academics and stakeholders in education had severally accused
TETFund management of essentially enriching foreign universities at the
detriment of their counterparts at home; instead of investing in higher
education in Nigeria, TETFund seems to be more concerned with sending staff to universities
abroad, the reason many stakeholders said is due to pecuniary gains officials
of the Fund derive from the foreign training.
TETFund management of essentially enriching foreign universities at the
detriment of their counterparts at home; instead of investing in higher
education in Nigeria, TETFund seems to be more concerned with sending staff to universities
abroad, the reason many stakeholders said is due to pecuniary gains officials
of the Fund derive from the foreign training.
TETFund, because of the its huge annual budget, and its hidden
expenditures, has become a public agency, which is more sought after by men of
questionable characters. It is a
goldmine to fraudulent officials in its office and higher schools as well as
contractors.
expenditures, has become a public agency, which is more sought after by men of
questionable characters. It is a
goldmine to fraudulent officials in its office and higher schools as well as
contractors.
Kickbacks at TETfund
The foremer TETFund boss, Dr
Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, who was sacked last year by President Muhammadu Buhari without explanation, once said in a
press conference that when he was appointed executive secretary in August 2016,
the agency was marked by corruption.
Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, who was sacked last year by President Muhammadu Buhari without explanation, once said in a
press conference that when he was appointed executive secretary in August 2016,
the agency was marked by corruption.
“When we came, the house was almost upside down, because the primary
purpose of establishing the agency, which is to intervene in specific areas
regarding investments and financing, was relegated to the background.
purpose of establishing the agency, which is to intervene in specific areas
regarding investments and financing, was relegated to the background.
“The annual direct disbursement for the year 2015’s allocation was only
20 per cent of the total allocation for that year, while special intervention,
which is discretional, was 80 per cent of the allocation for that year.
20 per cent of the total allocation for that year, while special intervention,
which is discretional, was 80 per cent of the allocation for that year.
“That is a recipe for corruption; that is a recipe for impunity; that is
a recipe for fraud,” he said.
a recipe for fraud,” he said.
But this man was removed from office because he refused to acquiesce to
corruption. He accused former education minister, Malam Adamu Adamu for asking
for bribe from him which he refused. The consequence was his sudden sack from
office.
corruption. He accused former education minister, Malam Adamu Adamu for asking
for bribe from him which he refused. The consequence was his sudden sack from
office.
“The minister sent someone to my office. He said I distributed over
N200billion to tertiary institutions without remitting the 10 per cent
kickback, which amounted to N20 billion.”
N200billion to tertiary institutions without remitting the 10 per cent
kickback, which amounted to N20 billion.”
Towards the end of 2018, Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, the sacked Executive
Secretary of TETFund, said he was sacked from his position as head of TETFund
because he failed to remit kickbacks to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
Secretary of TETFund, said he was sacked from his position as head of TETFund
because he failed to remit kickbacks to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
Speaking to BBC Hausa in an interview, Baffa revealed that his sack was
ill-motivated by the Education Minister who gave unfounded excuses against him.
ill-motivated by the Education Minister who gave unfounded excuses against him.
“The Minister sent someone to my
office. He said I distributed over N200billion to tertiary institutions without
remitting the 10 per cent kickback, which amounted to N20 billion,” Baffa said.
office. He said I distributed over N200billion to tertiary institutions without
remitting the 10 per cent kickback, which amounted to N20 billion,” Baffa said.
“If they bring any evidence
indicting me, I’m ready to accept death punishment,”he added.
indicting me, I’m ready to accept death punishment,”he added.
The sacked boss was replaced by
Suleiman Elias Bogoro, who was TETFund boss between 2014 and 2016. Bogoro was
also sacked from office in 2016.
Suleiman Elias Bogoro, who was TETFund boss between 2014 and 2016. Bogoro was
also sacked from office in 2016.
Academic
training abused
training abused
The agency’s academic staff training and development programme were being
routinely violated.
routinely violated.
Selected beneficiary scholars who were given money to pursue their
studies abroad spend the money on luxuries at home.
studies abroad spend the money on luxuries at home.
Many scholars argue that the fund is in the habit of spending the taxpayers’ money to enrich and strengthen
universities abroad, while the home universities suffer porosity of fund to run
their programmes effectively.
universities abroad, while the home universities suffer porosity of fund to run
their programmes effectively.
A lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Dr
Celestine Aguoru, once told University
World News that the fund was enriching universities “outside the shores of
Nigeria to the detriment of universities in Nigeria.
Celestine Aguoru, once told University
World News that the fund was enriching universities “outside the shores of
Nigeria to the detriment of universities in Nigeria.
“If we dedicated the amount of money committed to foreign training for
academic and non-academic staff of universities every year, to one university
each year, we would have state of the art research facilities in Nigerian
universities that foreign researchers would visit. But TETFund prefers to send
the money to foreign universities for training rather than spend it in
Nigeria,” he said.
academic and non-academic staff of universities every year, to one university
each year, we would have state of the art research facilities in Nigerian
universities that foreign researchers would visit. But TETFund prefers to send
the money to foreign universities for training rather than spend it in
Nigeria,” he said.
This habit discourages internal development of national institutions of
learning. How can they grow when the major source of funding prefers to give it
to some other universities outside?
learning. How can they grow when the major source of funding prefers to give it
to some other universities outside?
At TETFund, more funds were allocated to staff who are selected as
monitors of the students in overseas than the money spent on those sent on
training itself. Thus, it is clear why TETFund
officials prefer staff training abroad.
monitors of the students in overseas than the money spent on those sent on
training itself. Thus, it is clear why TETFund
officials prefer staff training abroad.
Grants misused
In September 2018 it was reported
that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission
had recovered a N7.5m grant misspent by 11 lecturers of the Kaduna State
Polytechnic.
that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission
had recovered a N7.5m grant misspent by 11 lecturers of the Kaduna State
Polytechnic.
The grant was given by the Fund to
the polytechnic between 2010 and 2017 for “staff capacity development through
local and international training.”
the polytechnic between 2010 and 2017 for “staff capacity development through
local and international training.”
The ICPC said the lecturers received the grant but failed to attend the
training, which held in Nigeria, the United States of America, Greece, and the
United Arab Emirates.
training, which held in Nigeria, the United States of America, Greece, and the
United Arab Emirates.
The commission’s spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, said the ICPC, through
its North-West Zonal office, investigated the TETFUND grant and reported that
the money was not utilised for the intended purpose.
its North-West Zonal office, investigated the TETFUND grant and reported that
the money was not utilised for the intended purpose.
The ICPC acting Chairman, Dr Musa Abubakar, who handed over the recovered
grant to the bursar of the institution, Mr Garba Nabayi, said the commission would
ensure that tertiary institutions in the country did not misuse TETFUND and
other grants.
grant to the bursar of the institution, Mr Garba Nabayi, said the commission would
ensure that tertiary institutions in the country did not misuse TETFUND and
other grants.
“This investigation of the
utilisation of TETFUND grants is being carried out in 27 other tertiary
institutions in the North-West geopolitical zone of the country to make sure
that all grants were properly used. Anyone found wanting for the misuse of the
grant will be prosecuted.
utilisation of TETFUND grants is being carried out in 27 other tertiary
institutions in the North-West geopolitical zone of the country to make sure
that all grants were properly used. Anyone found wanting for the misuse of the
grant will be prosecuted.
“Carting away public funds is one of the things we are fighting.
Non-utilisation of the fund given to lecturers is a crime and lecturers as role
models are to show good behavioural conduct to their students. Beneficiaries of
such grant must ensure they go for the training because ICPC will not only
recover such funds but will prosecute anybody found culpable.”
Non-utilisation of the fund given to lecturers is a crime and lecturers as role
models are to show good behavioural conduct to their students. Beneficiaries of
such grant must ensure they go for the training because ICPC will not only
recover such funds but will prosecute anybody found culpable.”
All said and done, Nigeria has not heard of any of its academics
prosecuted for misusing TETFund grant.
prosecuted for misusing TETFund grant.
TETFund misguided
A professor of English at the Bayero University Kano (BUK), Ibrahim
Bello-Kano, has said recently that the Nigerian university system has collapsed
beyond redemption.
Bello-Kano, has said recently that the Nigerian university system has collapsed
beyond redemption.
He said Nigerian universities
have degenerated into ‘Super Secondary Schools’ and there is no hope for
recovery.
have degenerated into ‘Super Secondary Schools’ and there is no hope for
recovery.
The don spoke at a round table
organised by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in
Kano, with the theme, “Reviving the culture of debate and critical thinking in
the Nigerian university system”.
organised by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in
Kano, with the theme, “Reviving the culture of debate and critical thinking in
the Nigerian university system”.
The reasons the don adduced include poor quality of students entering the
university, lack of diversity in the academic staff, poor quality of university
administrators, as well as dubious processes of recruitment and promotion of
lecturers.
university, lack of diversity in the academic staff, poor quality of university
administrators, as well as dubious processes of recruitment and promotion of
lecturers.
“Nigerian universities have
declined irretrievably and will never be better than they are now,” he said.
declined irretrievably and will never be better than they are now,” he said.
The professor lamented that Nigerian lecturers have become mere civil
servants with a teaching function rather than academics pursuing knowledge.
servants with a teaching function rather than academics pursuing knowledge.