The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has warned that the Federal Government will defund any non-performing Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Centres across the country.
Recall that the Federal Government eight years ago established TETFund Centres across the country.
The Minister, however, warned that the Federal Government will not continue to reward indolence. He said the Government will not be giving free money to institutions that are not doing what they are supposed to do.
Mamman made this disclosure in Abuja while receiving two out of three reports of TETFund’s Ad-hoc Committees. The reports were on Assessment/Review of TETFund Centres of Excellence and Operationalization of Skills Development Special Intervention.
The Minister said: “The Government is encouraging our scholars to simply rise to the occasion. And deliver on their scholarship, as world-class scholars do. We are not going to reward indolence. We can’t be giving free money to institutions that are not doing what they are supposed to do.”
Mamman pointed that the FG wants to raise the equipment level of TETFund beneficiary institutions. “So, that they can provide all the skill sets needed in Nigeria. In the highest quality that can service the country and internationally.”
Presenting the report of the Committee, Professor Oyewale Tomori, declined to recommend any Centre for upgrade.
The Committee, through the report, disclosed that most Centres did not utilize their first seed grant of N150 million. They stated that the fund was for the initial infrastructure required in the Centres.
However, the Committee, advised TETFund to provide some bailout funds to the Centres. This, it maintained, would enable the proper take-off of the intervention.
The Committee also called on the agency to ensure that all funds for the Centre of Excellence are disbursed directly to the Centre’s account.
The Committee also recommended that “If the Centres are to achieve the set objectives, TETFund in collaboration with institutions hosting the Centres should ensure that Centre Directors are on full-time assignment at the centre.”
They added that all Centres that are not performing well should be given a six-month moratorium. This is to persuade them to refocus and achieve their true mandate. They stated that after which a revisit will be conducted to determine their status.
In another report by the Advisory Committee on Operationalization of TETFund Skills Development Special Intervention, headed by Nuru Yakubu was presented.
Presenting the report, Yakubu said the Committee recommended polytechnics for TETFund Special Intervention according to their geo-political zones.
“South-west: The five schools visited have shown preparedness except for the Polytechnic, Ibadan, because of the school leadership transition. It, therefore, recommended that in 2024 the following two polytechnics should benefit; Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, and Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State. For 2025, the Committee recommends Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, and the Polytechnic Ibadan. This is, if they can sort out their preparations,” Yakubu said.
In the South-south, the Committee recommended that Rivers State Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, and Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic for 2024. While Delta State Polytechnic is suggested for 2025 intervention.
In the Southeast, the Committee recommended the Institute of Management and Technology, South-East for 2024. While the Abia State Polytechnic and Federal Polytechnic, Anambra, are for 2025.
For the North-East, the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, and Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, are recommended for 2024. While the Adamawa State Polytechnic, and Tatari Ali Polytechnic, were recommended for 2025.
In the North-west, the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, is suggested for 2024. While Kano State Polytechnic and Sokoto State Polytechnic are recommended for 2025.
In the North-Central, the Committee recommended the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, for 2024. And the Federal Polytechnic, Lokoja, for 2025,” the report concluded.
source: Premium Times.
