OPENING REMARKS BY THE PRO-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, SIR DR. EMEKA ENEJERE, AT THE 232ND MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON MAY 24 AND 25, 2013 AT NSUKKA CAMPUS
The Vice-Chancellor
Principal officers of the University
Fellow Council members
Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen
I welcome you all to the 232nd meeting of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the inaugural meeting of the 14th Governing Council of the University, holding at Nsukka Campus, Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25, 2013.
You will recall that on April 9, 2013 Professor Ruquyyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, OON, Minister of Education, inaugurated the Governing Councils of 21 Federal Universities at the NUC Auditorium in Abuja. Since then, it has not been possible for us to meet until now, in order to enable the Senate, Congregation and Convocation representatives of the Council to be determined. That process was concluded on May 16, 2013. The Council is therefore now properly constituted.
For the benefit of those who were not at the inaugural in Abuja by the Minister on April 9, 2013, it is necessary to inform you that the Minister, in her address, clearly spelt out the terms of reference for the work of University Governing Councils. Although I have passed a copy of the Minister’s speech to the Registrar and Secretary to Council, to make copies for all our Council members, I have tried in my opening remarks today, to summarize the salient points; which are as follow:
- To ensure that the education system is in a position to produce those with skills and competences to drive diverse sectors of the economy.
- To ensure that the institutions have good governance structure and quality members in the Governing Councils.
- To at all times, be in consultation with management of the Universities to be abreast with current Laws, Government Policies, White Papers, Circular, Gazettes and other relevant documents that will help in decision-making, without undue interference in the day-to-day running of the institutions.
- Governing Councils are expected to be concerned with policy issues, adoption of best practices, monitoring institutional projects and getting more funding outside government, to improve the facilities and infrastructure to promote teaching, research and learning of the institutions.
- To checkmate present challenges facing the education sector which include inadequate human resource and physical infrastructure, unstable academic calendar, general insecurity, examination malpractice, inadequate space for the teaming population seeking admission, decline in academic standards, poor management of funds and human resources, and many others which have impacted negatively on development of tertiary education in the country.
- To come up with ideas that will improve the ability of the institutions to generate more revenue outside government allocations, by looking outwards and enlist support of philanthropic organizations and individuals for additional funding, as well as exploring other sources of revenue generation through endowments.
- To address the issue of appointment of three (3) Deputy Vice Chancellors, which is alien to our system, and violates the statutes establishing the Universities. This exercise must be in line with established positions in the Universities.
- Other areas to be addressed include:
a. Respecting the Principle of Federal Character in the Appointment of Staff. (The Honourable Minister of Education said, and I quote: “some Universities have become parochial enclaves and the concept of universalism in education has been localized, especially in matters regarding staff employment. The Federal Character Commission and National Universities Commission (NUC) have both been requested to work with Councils to ensure compliance”).
b. Creation of bogus Political Portfolios for the Aides in the Office of the Vice Chancellor. (The Honourable Minister said, and I quote: “Vice Chancellors should respect the approved Scheme of Service for the Federal Universities and desist from creating bogus political portfolios for their Aides (Personal Assistants, Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants, Advisers; etc) who duplicate the duties of schedule officers. This action has put unnecessary burden on the Wage Bills. Councils and Management have been directed to correct this aberration immediately”).
c. Creation of unnecessary Directorates. (The Honourable Minister said, and I quote “some Vice Chancellors have resorted to the creation of unnecessary Directorates in the attempt to find duties for their Aides or friends of University Administration. For example, the creation of the Directorate of Personnel Management not only distorts the Organogram of the University for the Statutorily Established Registry Department, it undermines the Registrar and all other staff who are employed in the first instance to carry out that duty. NUC has been directed to monitor and ensure that erring institutions revert to approved Organograms while the Council should ensure compliance”).
d. Borrowing from Custodial Funds. (The Honourable Minister said, and I quote “Governing Council members must never betray their honour to borrow from custodial funds belonging to the University. Management must ensure that funds not required for immediate use is deposited in Government Securities or in interest earning accounts. Vice Chancellors must not be complacent in bringing such cases from over-bearing Councils to the attention of the Ministry”).
- Councils to address the issue of streamlining educational programmes in their respective Universities in line with core mandate of those institutions to meet national and international standards by ensuring that only accredited courses and programmes by regulatory agencies and professional bodies are allowed to run.
- For relevance to the needs of the economy, Councils should refocus on institutional mandates of teaching, research, training and community service should be encouraged.
- In the course of their tenure, Councils should tackle the appointment of Principal Officers by ensuring that proper attention and priority are accorded the relevant Universities Laws, and Government Guidelines in appointments. Councils should ensure transparency, probity and due process followed in the selection and appointment processes for emergence of best and right candidates in positions.
- Merit should be the guiding principle in selecting Chief Executives or Principal Officers, rather than conceiving ideas that they should come from the locality, which is alien to the system. Councils should not allow such conception to becloud their decisions.
- Maintenance of peace and harmony should be employed as activities that would disrupt teaching, research, community service and meaningful learning process should be avoided. Councils should adopt best practices and comply with statutory guidelines in their supervisory functions. Council should encourage responsive and responsible unionism and arrest problem of cultism and drug abuse. Councils should adopt effective strategies for early detection and eradication of social vices such as cultism, theft, kidnapping, extortion, sexual harassment, inducement, examination malpractices, drug abuse etc.
- Councils should see to the effective implementation of Government Views (White Paper) on Visitation Panel Report, and seek Federal Ministry of Education’s assistance when the need arises.
- Governing Council members to take note that this appointment is not a means for self-aggrandizement and enrichment, but a call for service to humanity, and not to be lured to turn award of “Honourary Degrees” or “Fellows” to chieftaincy affairs, as the sanctity and integrity of the institutions should be foremost in deciding these awards.
- In addition to the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman and four (4) other external members appointed by Government, Governing Councils should include Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, one (1) person from Federal Ministry of Education, four (4) persons appointed by the Senate from among its members, two (2) persons from the Congregation from among the members, one (1) person by Convocation from among its members and Registrar as the Secretary to the Council.
As your Chairman, let me emphasize that It is vitally important that, at all times, Council will be guided by this policy statement. Permit me, also, to observe that I see this Council as one, and with a common objective, which is to uphold good governance structures and to improve the quality of output in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I therefore do not accept the dichotomy between “external” and “internal” members on the Council.
We shall succeed or fail as a Council in the discharge of the responsibility of general superintendence and management of the affairs of the University, in the proper control of its finances, appointments, promotions, welfare and discipline of the entire staff of the University, through the Senate. In all our deliberations, Council members must be guided by this objective.
I have therefore, no doubt that as rational individuals, we shall be able to avoid being bugged down by subjective and mundane considerations in all matters before the Council.
COMMITTEES OF GOVERNING COUNCIL:
A Council performs its functions through statutory and various Committees it creates; and it appoints members of Committees from within the Council, as well as from non-Council members in the University’s Senate or Academic Boards, where applicable.
Some of the major committees are as follows:
• The Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC);
• The Tenders Board;
• The Appointments and Promotions Committee (A&PC);
• The Senior Staff Discipline Committee;
• The Search Team for the appointment of Vice Chancellor;
• The Joint Council/Senate Selection Board for the Appointment of Vice Chancellor.
As a Council, we may also need to create a Petitions and Appeals Committee to process petitions before us for consideration and disposal action, as the need may arise.
The main function of the Finance and General Purpose Committee is to exercise control over the property and expenditure of the institution, and to deal with any financial and other general matters not covered by any other committee which may arise between meeting of Council and require urgent attention.
It is the responsibility of this committee also to ensure that proper accounts of the institution are kept and that accounts are audited annually by approved independent firms or auditors, and that an annual report, together with certified copies of the audited account, is published by the University.
The Committee is also to ensure that all expenditures are approved in compliance by the rules and regulations governing the institution. In addition, the Committee is responsible for examining the annual estimates of the institution for the purpose of presentation to the appropriate authority.
The Tenders Board is responsible for the award of contracts in respect of projects in the institution, and in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Public Procurement Act. The membership of a Tenders Board, as well as the modalities of operation are clearly defined in the Act.
The Appointments and Promotions Committee has two Sub-Committees. One is responsible for the appointment and promotion of senior staff, and the other is responsible for junior staff.
The Disciplinary Committee’s function is to ensure discipline.
The Governing Council’s Search Team for the appointment of Vice Chancellor functions as its name implies, while the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board carries out the exercise to its logical conclusion.
I am optimistic that this Council, in all its actions, shall function within the legal requirements and the instruments under which it is established. The tenure of the Council is 4 years from the date of its inauguration, provided it is not found to be incompetent or corrupt. The Visitor to the University can dissolve the Council at any time. The Council is expected to generate policies for the good management and growth of the University. This should guide all our actions at all times.
Let me remind all of us that the founders of this University intended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to be the Varsity of Excellence in Nigeria, Africa and the world. It was set up in collaboration with Michigan State University, USA and the founders intended the University to be a beacon of hope for growing young men and women which shall seek knowledge and skill in the valley of the soft green hills of Nuskka, with an environment second to none, for contemplation. The founders also hoped that the products of this Varsity shall be dedicated to teaching and preserving truth in the service of humanity.
The graduates of UNN were also expected by the founding fathers to be in the forefront of the awakening of the great potentials of Nigeria, as well as in promoting the renaissance of the African continent, while actualizing the possibilities of the black race.
The philosophy and the noble purpose of the University is to seek truth, teach truth and preserve truth. Its motto is… To Restore The Dignity of Man. Its emblem, the black lion, embedded in the green, white and green colour of Nigeria defines the black centric nature of its challenges and tasks in a world of races.
The University has lived up to its bidding, but has also become affected by the general malaise and decay of the educational system in our country; and the Honourable Minister of Education has challenged Governing Councils to ensure that our tertiary institutions are restored to their pride of place in the world.
I, therefore implore this Council to project this responsibility with all the attention it deserves.
In its 2011-2012 annual Report of the University, the Academic Planning Unit, under the Vice Chancellor, Professor Bartho Okolo, stated the Vision Statement of the Unit to be that of creating a globally functional, competitive and research-focused University responsive to the mode of society, while delivering world-class education and knowledge. In the same Report, the Mission Statement aims at placing UNN in the forefront of research, development innovation, knowledge transfer and human resource development, and in the promotion of core values to ensure the restoration of the dignity of man.
Let me therefore congratulate all of us for this well deserved appointment, and implore us to brace up for the challenges ahead, by placing the interest of the University above all other considerations, and to be guided by equity, justice and deep sense of honesty at all times.
Thank you.
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OPENING REMARKS BY THE PRO-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
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