By Teddy Nwanunobi
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — The Federal Government will, on Tuesday next week, commence audit of the utilisation of grants for the take-off projects in the 12 new federal universities that were established between 2011 and 2013 under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The Committee, which would be inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on May 2, is xpected to complete its assignment within 12 weeks from the day of inauguration.
Consequently, the Minister, while constituting a seven-man committee, on Wednesday, named the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Olufemi Bamiro as Chairman, with Kefas M. Magaji as Secretary.
Other members of the Committee listed in the statement include: S. L Abubakar, Mansur Ahmed, Umar Aliyu, Freddy Esenwa and Patrick Ehi Oshio.
The 12 new universities in focus include: Federal University Lokoja, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Federal University Dutse, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, and Federal University Gusau.
Others are Federal University Kashere, Federal University Gashua, Federal University Birnin-Kebbi, Federal University Lafia, Federal University Otuoke, and Federal University Wukari.
A ministry’s statement listed the terms of Reference for the Committee’s assignment to include: determination of the actual amount released to the NUC by TETFund as take-off grant for projects for the 12 universities; to identify and confirm the number of contracts awarded, including contract sums under the take-off grants and to ascertain that due process was followed in the award of the contracts for the take-off projects.
Other terms of reference include: to determine the amount paid on each project, including outstanding claims, if any, to date; to assess the status of the various projects implemented using the take-off grants; and to make recommendations for any other issues relating to projects implementation in the 12 universities.
