Senator Uche Chukwmerije
Tunde Sanni
The Senate Committee on Education has given the management of federal universities a two-week ultimatum to explain the financial activities and budget implementation in their institutions in the last one year.
The committee led by Senator Uche Chukwmerije indicated that the ultimatum would help the committee to address the grey areas in their presentation ahead of the budgetary allocation to them.
The committee, which was on an oversight function to the University of Ibadan, however expressed reservations that despite the leading status of the premier university globally, the institution is not on the ranking of eminent universities in the world.
The committee however picked holes in the financial presentation of the premier university and directed them to make clarification on the financial status to enable them defend the budgetary allocation for next year.
Chukwumerije said, “We express deep commitment to the growth of education, especially tertiary education in Nigeria. It is in this respect that we embarked on visitation of this institution.
“We need clarifications on the grey areas on the financial activities and welfare of the school. The clarification, which must be forwarded to us within the period of two weeks, touching on funding, will give us insight into areas where the university needs help.”
Chukwumerije cited what he described as inconsistency in the recurrent expenditure submitted to the committee by the university authorities.
He said, “A review of the recurrent expenditure shows that telephone charges has no provision in 2011 budget. We require detail explanation in writing to the committee within the stipulated period of two years.
“There are also grey areas on Internally Generated Revenue. Information on other sources of revenue such as intervention funds, loans and grants, the international school and the zoo have not been captured in the document.”
In addition, the committee raised questions on social responsibility projects that the 64-year old school had embarked upon.