The Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, has strongly warned all public universities who are beneficiaries of the annual N1.3 trillion NEEDS assessment fund to adhere strictly to due process in all their procurement processes in line with the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
The Minister was speaking at a one-day retreat of the National Universities Commission, NUC’s Implementation Monitoring Committee, IMC, on the Needs Assessment Intervention in Nigerian Public Universities in Abuja.
He stressed on the need for transparency and accountability in the way tax payers’ funds are used. He stated that relevant agencies would ensure audit of all funds disbursed. The Minister clearly drew up the procedure for the disbursement of projects funds, instructing that every step must be followed.
“There should be no reason for abandoned projects in our institutions especially those provided for under this intervention,” he said.
He emphasized that the money must be used for rehabilitation of dilapidated structures and the construction of new ones.
He affirmed further that universities should make sure that all new projects were situated on their permanent site.
He also cautioned against delay in meeting financial obligations to contractors, vendors, suppliers and staff undergoing training.
DAILY POST recalls that following the University strike that lasted for six months in 2013 and subsequent NEEDS assessment, the government set aside N1.3 trillion to the nation’s institutions to be disbursed over a period of six years; from 2013 to 2018.
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