AFRICA, Nigeria, FG Warns Against Illegal Higher Institution

Kaduna — The Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, has warned that the Federal Government will no longer condone activities of some unscrupulous Nigerians who indulge in illegal activities of operating unlicenced schools in the name of satellite campuses and outreach centres.

The minister, who spoke in Kaduna at a consultative meeting between the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Rectors of Polytechnics and Provosts of Colleges of Technology in the country, regretted that such activities are often aided by some heads of government institutions.

She declared that henceforth, nobody will be allowed to brazenly compromise the future of Nigerians and mortgage the nation's development.

The minister said government will continue to protect the integrity of the education system in the country from the activities of undesirable elements at all time. She said further that the government will remain steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that the standard of education is not compromised, saying.

"While we desire to open access, we shall not compromise the future of Nigerians and mortgage our national development. Quality will be jealously guarded, "the minister added.

According to her, the government has planned a new approach to Technical and Vocational Education Training, as part of the four-year strategy for the development of the education sector. This, she explained, was responsible for the huge investment by the government in equipment, laboratories and infrastructural facilities in 51 states and Federal Government owned polytechnics across the country.

The minister added that an additional N2 billion has been approved for the second phase of the project, stressing that the government plans to invest about N6 billion as special intervention in the science and technical colleges across the country.

She urged the rectors to adopt global best practices in the management of their institutions, stressing that transparency and accountability must be their watch word while eschewing the culture of impunity that forced government into doing away with the services of two rectors recently.

The minister further directed the NBTE to forward to her office areas of focus for the polytechnics and to ensure that funds given to them are utilised within the areas of focus and in line with the federal government transformation agenda.

The minister further warned that "government will not tolerate reckless spending from heads of institutions or expenditure outside the identified areas of need and the government transformation agenda."

Earlier in his address at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Dr. Musa'udu Kazaure disclosed that the board was in the process of reviewing the scheme of service for staff of Federal Polytechnics and related institutions to create a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.

He explained that when the process was completed and approved, the scheme which is over 20 years old will be an added impetus to staff to put in their best to teaching and learning.