A COMEDIC stage drama is currently unfolding at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Eyo Okon, a Professor of Zoology at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), is the lead actor, and he is piloting other members of a hurriedly constituted Visitation Panel, a troupe of some sort, to undertake, in just one month, an inquiry that took a previous, credible Visitation Panel, three excruciating months to conduct. The audience, of course, is not some group of animals in a zoo. They are important stakeholders, who are wondering who, in Abuja, thought that they needed to see this unnecessary comedy show. But the show, against all odds, has to go on anyway.But Okon and members of his troupe are already learning the hard way. The Academic Staff Union of University (UNIBEN branch) told them pointedly that it was not interested in making any presentation. The unions chairman, Dr Anthony Monye-Emina told The Guardian yesterday that he told the panel that the union is still expecting the White Paper of the previous Visitation Panel and as such we have no business with them.In the same vein, Comrade James Okoh, who chairs the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), told the newspaper that the union was also not interested in making any presentation. We are still expecting the report of the last Visitation Panel and until that happens, we are not interested in any other panel. In fact, former Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Emmanuel Nwanze, whose tenure, 20042009, was covered by the immediate past visitation, appeared before Okon and his colleagues but only presented a copy of the protest letter he sent to President Goodluck Jonathan on the impropriety of sending another panel to UNIBEN, when the report of the previous one was not yet out.So, what can Okon and his colleagues really achieve Prof. Placid Njoku, who was first asked to lead the team had quickly declined for undisclosed reasons. The decision to send Okon and his team to UNIBEN is, to all intent and purposes, a slap on the face of Nigerians, a waste of their scarce resources, an attempt to hoodwink them and an exercise in futility. It is also an indication that the quality of advice placed before the federal government in this particular instance, lacked the intelligence expected of a reverred parastatal like the National Universities Commission (NUC).It is true the Federal Government last month, by fiat, constituted Visitation Panels to all Federal Universities. Since education has suddenly become very important, especially in this election period, the same government had woken up one morning and had decided, also by fiat, to establish six new Federal Universities in each of the six geopolitical zones. It has since become a campaign slogan. The same government had proclaimed that the 6-3-3-4 system was bad, but despite holding a summit with fanfare last year, it is yet to find a solution or think of any, to the perennial failure rate that has plagued the secondary education sub-sector.Instead, some experts, most of whom have their children in various tertiary institutions abroad, convinced the government, without even asking for the views of the Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC), that new universities were the best option. It has since emerged that the option was not adopted at the Presidential Education Summit. The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufai has barely three months left to spend in office. The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie is on his way out too, because he had pledged, when he took oath of office over four years ago, to spend only one term in office like his predecessor did.However, the various actions emanating from the Federal Ministry of Education, at this last minute, have become the butt of jokes in academic circles. Professional comedians are also talking about them at various parties.When The Guardian contacted Okojie recently to ascertain why UNIBEN was included in the list to be visited by Visitation Panels, he said that the previous panel was constituted at that time because of the crisis that engulfed the university. In other circles, the insinuation has also emerged that the previous panel was not presidential, like the current one. Others are even claiming that the terms of reference of the current panels are very comprehensive unlike the UNIBEN version. All the claims are misleading. Yet, the very first term of reference of Okons panel is for it to examine to what extent the previous Visitation Panel report has been executed, a report that was never read. It then means that what the NUC simply did, was to bring out a template on Visitation Panels, dust and hand it over to all the new constituted panels, without bothering to remove undesirable items. The crisis at UNIBEN at that time was so intense that the panel had to be sent by the visitor, the President, because no one else could have done so.That panel was inaugurated on March 26, 2009 by Egwu on behalf of the late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua. The membership, which had four former Vice Chancellors included: the chairman, Prof. Peter Okebukola (former vice chancellor of the Lagos State University, former Executive Secretary of the NUC, and pro-chancellor of the Osun State University); Prof. Nimi Briggs (former vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt); Prof. Tijjani Bande (former vice chancellor, Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto); Prof. Tukur Saad (former vice chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna) Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Jibrin (former member of Council, UNIBEN), and Mrs. E. Ori Okonjokwu, a Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Education) who served as secretary.The terms of reference were to: determine the relationship between the institution and the various statutory bodies it interacts with according to its laws for purposes of supervision, planning, finance, discipline and guidance; look into the leadership quality of the institution in terms of the role of Governing Council, the Head of the institution and other principal officers at the period of management with Council and in absence of Council; look into the financial management of the University over the recommended period and determine whether it was in compliance with appropriate regulations; investigate the application of funds, particularly the special grants and loans meant for special projects in order to determine the status of such projects and their relevance for further funding; examine the law establishing the institution and see in what ways the law has been observed in all its ramifications, particularly with regards to discipline by the university authorities, staff and students and also suggest any necessary modification to the law in order to enable the University to achieve its objectives better.Other terms of reference were to: study the general atmosphere of the institution over the period in question (2004-2009). In particular, comment on the general conduct and comportment of the personnel of the institution, especially the students, staff and managers and advise as to whether the correct training was being given and how necessary corrections may be made. This should include the relationship between the University and the host community over the period in question; examine all the academic programmes, policies as well as the total academic and physical development, performance and direction of the institution and advise as to whether the desired targets have been met and how modifications may be made to achieve maximum productivity, excellence, and service to the nation; study in detail the management structure and performance of the institution including fiscal administrative personnel and welfare policies and advise on ways to cut cost, reduce waste whilst continuing to develop, if necessary by adaptation, rather than expansion in the face of dwindling resources; examine and report on the level of implementation of the White Paper on previous visitation; and advise on any or all other aspects of the University that may be considered of interest to both the Visitor and the public, and to the attainment of the objectives for which the University was set up.The panel received about 138 memoranda from members of the University community and outside bodies. And over the threemonth period that the panel sat, amidst threats of all kinds, it applied wide ranging and comprehensive methodologies for data gathering. Consultations and interactive sessions were held with the Oba of Benin, Omo NOba NEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa III, the Edo State governor, Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Principal Officers, staff and students of the University. Relevant agencies such as the FME, Federal Ministry of Finance, NUC, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Education Trust Fund (ETF), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Council of Legal Education, and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. There was an extensive questionnaire survey, sampling students and staff to assess the leadership of the council and management during the period under review. Besides, there was in-dept analysis of financial management of the University within the period under review, which also included a rigorous study of all details in this regard.The report was thus, the most comprehensive and forensic ever produced about UNIBEN since its inception in 1970.
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