The Federal Government has inaugurated the Special Visitation Panel to look into the institutional crisis rocking the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos State.
Chaired by former Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, SAN, the 11-member panel is expected to conclude its assignment and submit its report within four weeks.
Inaugurating the committee, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa said it is not a fault-finding mission driven by sentiment but structured intervention intended to restore institutional integrity, good governance, and an environment conducive to learning and academic growth.
Dr Alausa tasked committee members to discharge their duties with diligence, objectivity, and fairness.
He expressed worry that the prolonged institutional crisis at the College, had disrupted normal academic and administrative operations. This, he emphasised, posed a serious threat to governance and institutional stability.
He said: “This Panel has been carefully composed, bringing together respected individuals of high integrity, experience, and expertise in governance, academia, law, labour relations, and institutional reform.
“The Federal Government, in line with its Renewed Hope Agenda remains committed to ensuring that our Federal Tertiary Institutions are not just functional, but exemplary in conduct and leadership.
“The nation is watching, and the outcome of your work will contribute meaningfully to strengthening the credibility of our educational institutions”.
Terms of reference of the committee include to: review the actions and roles of staff unions during the period of unrest; investigate the conduct and performance of former and acting Provosts, especially as it pertains to administrative lapses such as delays in signing official documents; identify individuals or groups responsible for misconduct, including the physical locking of the Provost’s office and obstruction of legitimate duties; assess the impartiality and effectiveness of the College’s internal disciplinary systems, and the roles of key officials, including the Registrar and internal council members.
Others are to determine whether due process and institutional rules were followed in handling complaints and disciplinary matters throughout the crisis; recommend appropriate disciplinary measures for those found culpable; provide advisory recommendations to the Ministry on legal, administrative, and institutional reforms to prevent a recurrence of such crises — both at Akoka and in other Federal Colleges of Education.
Other members of the panel include Dr. Adamu Kwami; Prof, Faruk Haruna (Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Education, Kontangora) and Dr. Smart Oluebeko (National President, College of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU).
Others are Danladi Ali (National President, Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria, SSUCOEN); Prince Peters Adeyemi; Omotayo Adeyemi; Dr. Ismaila Adiatu, Godwin Egbunefu, Samuel Etu and Rolex Ada.
Responding, the panel chairman assured that the panel would strictly stick to its responsibility, noting that the members would justify the confidence reposed in them by the Minister.
Abubakar assured that the committee would leave no stone unturned in getting to the roots of the matter.
“We will do our best and come up with far-reaching recommendations that would stand the test of time,” he said.
