FG Constitutes Administrative Panel To Resolve AUST Crisis

 

The Federal Government has on Friday constituted an Administrative Audit Panel to solve the administrative crisis affecting the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) In Abuja.

 

According to reports, AUST was operated on public-private partnership agreement with obligations and responsibilities of the public and private entities. The FG of Nigeria and the Nelson Mandela Institutions (NMI) clearly spelt out in a cooperation agreement.

 

According to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sunny Echono, the panel became aparent following several worrisome reports received by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) expressing concern on the management impasse impeding the daily management and activities of the institution.

Echono stated that a fact-finding team had in 2017 brought to light several issues affecting the institution, including irregular governance structure which is not in line with the university law.

 

AUST has no Governing Council and its board takes decisions on issues that should be the responsibility of the governing council.

 

The Perm Sec stated that the audit panel would allow government to take in-depth review of the proprietorship, academis affairs, governance, financial and physical development matters in the university and to also make recommendations towards resolving the noted challenges.

 

Findings by campusbiz, reveals that the panel has Prof. Emeritus Nimi Briggs as Chairman and Prof. Afis A. Oladosu, Mr. J. Ojo, Mr. Balarabe Z. Ahmed, Dr. R.B. Ramon Yusuf, Mr. Chris J. Maiyaki, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Siddique as representatives of FCDA and the Ministry of Finance.

 

The panel is to critically examine the governance arrangement of the university, the financial management system, the cooperation agreement and the university law, as well as academic matters.

They have six weeks to submit their report to the appropriate quarters.