VCs of federal universities to render account of NEEDS funds

Vice Chancellors of Nigerian federal universities are to defend the funds released to them under the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) assessment scheme.

The development may not be unconnected with the resolve of President Mohammadu Buhari to make heads of universities in the country accountable to the relevant ministries in line with the transparency policy of the present administration.

Vice chancellor of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali who disclosed this to reporters said the financial scrutiny would be basically on the second tranches of the NEEDS to the relevant institutions.

Ambali while reacting to some recent allegations leveled against him in a national daily (not the Guardian) said it was mischievous for anyone to accuse the management or any principal officer of diverting funds put in his care.

He said the administration of any federal university would ordinarily make the diversion of funds cumbersome as all the Deans of faculties make their inputs before arriving at a consensus agreement. People who are opposed to our 17 years of running uninterrupted academic calendar are the ones trying to derail us.

Ambali who alleged high level of sabotage against his administration by some unscrupulous persons which led to a recent burning of a multi billion naira thick plantation of the university said a committee has been set up to investigate the remote and immediate cause of the fire incident.

Ambali whose tenure would end in October, said he was not opposed to the establishment of unions in the University but with a caveat that such associations should reasonably consider the cogent views of others.

He urged those jostling for his position to shun their “pull him down syndrome’ but wait on God as only Him has the potentials to enthrone any one He so desired.