 |
| Bogoro |
TETFund’s N359bn unaccounted for in
Jonathan’s govt ― Bogoro
Jonathan’s govt ― Bogoro
By Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
The Executive Secretary of Tertiary
Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro has revealed
that the sum of N359 billion was withdrawn in 2013 from the account of the Fund
without due process.
Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro has revealed
that the sum of N359 billion was withdrawn in 2013 from the account of the Fund
without due process.
He spoke while responding to
questions from members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on
Tertiary Institutions and Services Tuesday in Abuja during their oversight
visit to the Fund.
questions from members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on
Tertiary Institutions and Services Tuesday in Abuja during their oversight
visit to the Fund.
When making clarification on the
missing fund, the TETFund boss said the management had to file various
petitions to the Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly, all in a bid to
recover the money from the government to no avail.
missing fund, the TETFund boss said the management had to file various
petitions to the Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly, all in a bid to
recover the money from the government to no avail.
The House Committee led by Hon. Aminu
Suleiman made reference to the fund in their audited financial reports during
the visit.
Suleiman made reference to the fund in their audited financial reports during
the visit.
“Under the guise of borrowing, the total sum
of N359bn was taken out between September and December 2013 without any
consultation, whatsoever, but with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) coming
into place in 2015, a lot of things have
changed.
of N359bn was taken out between September and December 2013 without any
consultation, whatsoever, but with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) coming
into place in 2015, a lot of things have
changed.
“On that amount, I think there was
about N128 bn taken out in one tranche that had nothing to do with education,
we had to write the Ministry of Finance requesting for the money, it was even
ascribed to me by some mischievous persons.
about N128 bn taken out in one tranche that had nothing to do with education,
we had to write the Ministry of Finance requesting for the money, it was even
ascribed to me by some mischievous persons.
“We, however, appreciate the National Assembly
members for their concerns and efforts to see that these monies are refunded to
us by this year because it will help our accounts to be more balanced,” he
said.
members for their concerns and efforts to see that these monies are refunded to
us by this year because it will help our accounts to be more balanced,” he
said.
Bogoro said that there has been a
paradigm shift by investing more research and development rather than building
physical infrastructure in institutions.
paradigm shift by investing more research and development rather than building
physical infrastructure in institutions.
He told the lawmakers that over 200
institutions were on the beneficiary list of TETFund from the 15 areas of
intervention of the fund.
institutions were on the beneficiary list of TETFund from the 15 areas of
intervention of the fund.
He said occasionally they had reasons
to update and review and add the few areas of interventions that are considered
very important.
to update and review and add the few areas of interventions that are considered
very important.
“We have to invest in the human capital
through academic staff training and development. We have sponsored over 26000
for PhD and Maste’r degrees almost an equal number in overseas and within the
country.
through academic staff training and development. We have sponsored over 26000
for PhD and Maste’r degrees almost an equal number in overseas and within the
country.
“We have recently introduced
postdoctoral support for those who have just finished their PhD up to a period
of five years for the purposes of undertaking post-doctoral research.”
postdoctoral support for those who have just finished their PhD up to a period
of five years for the purposes of undertaking post-doctoral research.”
He stressed that the research and
development and centre of excellence department of the Fund had been
supervising the utilisation of the approved grant.
development and centre of excellence department of the Fund had been
supervising the utilisation of the approved grant.
“Recently we approved 128 research
grants and we are hoping if Mr President approves a proposal that has been made
by the Board of Trustees for an increase in the research grant, it will have a
positive impact on the sector.
grants and we are hoping if Mr President approves a proposal that has been made
by the Board of Trustees for an increase in the research grant, it will have a
positive impact on the sector.
“We are therefore positive that we
are likely to have an increment in that amount and with this, there is an
increasing awareness in the system that our universities, polytechnics, and
colleges of education cannot continue to emphasize teaching at the expense of
research.
are likely to have an increment in that amount and with this, there is an
increasing awareness in the system that our universities, polytechnics, and
colleges of education cannot continue to emphasize teaching at the expense of
research.
“That is the new area where we are
investing massively. For some time now TETFund had been associated with merely
building and we are saying that we want a paradigm shift. This is not to say
that we will stop physical infrastructure.
investing massively. For some time now TETFund had been associated with merely
building and we are saying that we want a paradigm shift. This is not to say
that we will stop physical infrastructure.
“We have not overshot our budget
spending. We have always lived within our statutory means. It is FIRS that
collects money and sends it to the Central Bank. Until it is sent to the
intervention account we cannot assess it. Tetfund keeps within the responsible
realm of its expenditure.”
spending. We have always lived within our statutory means. It is FIRS that
collects money and sends it to the Central Bank. Until it is sent to the
intervention account we cannot assess it. Tetfund keeps within the responsible
realm of its expenditure.”
The committee chairman satisfied with
the explanations of the executive secretary said, “If TETFund is good it is our
pride” and promised to understudy the account books presented to them before
making further comments.
the explanations of the executive secretary said, “If TETFund is good it is our
pride” and promised to understudy the account books presented to them before
making further comments.