By Amb Rikwense Muri
One area where the current Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas, has aimed to leave a lasting impact and establish a legacy for future generations is in the realm of education.
The Governor has displayed a level of dedication in this field that warrants recognition. His focus extends beyond merely providing free and accessible education; he strives for it to be of high quality and influential in society.
He has made education free from primary to secondary levels and has halved the fees of tertiary institutions. I have been informed that he is also working towards offering bursaries to students in state, federal, and private institutions.
It is evident to the people of Taraba State that the Governor envisions education as the key to propelling Taraba State forward. Initially, there were doubts about the sincerity of his intentions, especially given the poor conditions of schools in the state, particularly at the primary level.
However, the Governor believes that schools must first be made free or affordable before efforts are made to enhance their quality. He approached this strategically and pragmatically.
To ensure quality and global standards, starting from the university downwards, he established the Visitation Panel for Taraba State University, with the Chairmanship held by a Distinguished Scholar and Political Leader, the former Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Josiah Sabo Kente, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Mass Media and Corporate Communications at Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK).
The Visitation Panel assigned to Taraba State University in 2024 was given the mandate to assess the leadership quality of the institution, recruitment procedures, staff sufficiency, and interactions with regulatory bodies from 2010 to date.
The panel produced a thorough report outlining crucial areas for improvement in leadership, emphasizing the necessity for stability within the Governing Council, adherence to legal frameworks by the Vice-Chancellor, and professional growth for Principal Officers.
Recommendations included bolstering stability, ensuring governmental representation, and broadening expertise for effective oversight.
Concerning recruitment practices and staff development, the panel identified notable deficiencies in transparency and staff distribution.
The university faces a noticeable imbalance between academic and non-academic staff, prompting a recommendation to temporarily halt the hiring of non-academic staff and increase the recruitment of academic staff.
Moreover, the report proposed expanding staff development initiatives to enhance skills and align with the university’s strategic goals.
In terms of the university’s relationships with regulatory bodies, critical issues were brought to light. The Panel discovered that the Governing Council of the university lacks experience in higher education management, resulting in internal governance discrepancies.
Additionally, the university occasionally disregarded NUC guidelines, compromising program standards, and encountered obstacles in collaborating with the State Ministry of Education, Local Government Councils, and TETFund. Immediate reforms were deemed necessary to address these systemic deficiencies and improve the university’s efficiency and reputation.
It is also recommended that the University Law be amended to stipulate that:”During periods when there is no Governing Council in place, the Vice-Chancellor may exercise any or all of the powers, functions, rights, or duties of the Governing Council on the authority of the Visitor, provided that any such actions by the Vice-Chancellor without prior written approval from the Visitor are null, void, and of no effect.
“This is the only recommendation from the Panel with which I have slight reservations, as it would contravene NUC guidelines for university operations and potentially place the university’s administration directly under the control of the state’s executive governor, subjecting it to political interference”.
Upon reviewing the Kente Panel report, I am elated by the significant developments that have come to light for the people of Taraba. Firstly, it is now evident to all sincere citizens of Taraba that the Kefas administration is effectively utilizing education as a catalyst for the state’s advancement.
The establishment of a university is not merely an end in itself; it must be accompanied by a thorough evaluation of the institution’s performance to ensure the delivery of a world-class education.
The constitution of a University Governing Council should not be subject to political patronage if we are truly committed to upholding the standards of quality education, given the Council’s crucial role in overseeing staffing, administration, and funding.
Secondly, the comprehensive report would not have been possible without the cooperation and assistance of the current University management, led by Prof. S.P. Bako.
The management diligently provided the Visitation Panel with all requested documents dating back to 2010. Calls for the suspension of the current University Management demonstrate a lack of understanding regarding the purpose of the Visitation Panel’s report.
It is imperative that we do not allow political agendas to compromise the significant progress that TSU stands to achieve based on this report, which owes its existence to the current management’s cooperation.
I appreciate the swift response from Chairman of the Visitation Panel, Prof. Kente, in refuting allegations of a 100 million naira bribe offered by the current University management, emphasizing that no such negotiations ever took place. Prof. Kente’s primary focus is on elevating TSU to international acclaim by addressing its underlying issues comprehensively.
It is essential to note that the report covers a span of 13 years, from 2010 to 2023, during which the University saw five Vice-Chancellors, three of whom were substantive and two acting.
The claim of misappropriating 6 billion naira lacks clarity without a breakdown of the figures over the review period. Additionally, the current administration has only been in office for two years, during which an 8-month ASUU strike occurred. It is crucial to question whether the alleged misappropriation occurred under the current management.
Until the report is publicly released and thoroughly analyzed, calls for the dismissal of the university management are premature and unfounded.
Prof. S.P. Bako’s tenure as VC of TSU has been hailed by analysts as two years marked by exceptional leadership in the realm of education.
Under his guidance, the University has witnessed remarkable progress, including academic accreditation by NUC and other regulatory bodies, accelerated infrastructural development, a stable academic calendar, enhanced research support, digitization of academic activities, and a crackdown on indecent dressing and campus indiscipline, leading to improved morale among staff and students. TSU has also forged new international linkages and collaborations under his leadership.
Nevertheless, despite the achievements of the Prof Bako Administration, there are numerous areas that require attention if we are truly committed to establishing a world-class university, particularly in terms of staffing.
The staffing ratio of academic and non-academic personnel needs to be thoroughly examined by the Governing Council, which is responsible for authorizing their appointments.
The oversight of these matters by the council indicates the necessity of ensuring that the University Governing Council consists of individuals who are academically sound and possess the expertise needed for effective management of tertiary institutions.
This should be a priority for the state government in order to ensure quality staffing from the Vice Chancellor down to the most junior staff on campus. There have been instances where the employment of non-academic staff has been influenced by political pressures from the Council.
Regardless of the challenges, the report of the Kente Panel provides the government with a clear roadmap that can guide efforts to elevate TSU to the status of a world-class University.
This roadmap has the potential to significantly benefit both the State government and the University’s Management in repositioning the institution for greater success.
Introducing political factors into the equation could have serious legal and institutional implications that could tarnish the University’s reputation. It is important to remember the adage that “Rome was not built in a day.”
Genuine reform must be gradual and focused on sustainability. Resorting to media propaganda to incite political interference in a university environment is typically not the most effective approach. It is easier to criticize others for their wrongdoings than to lead by example.
In many cases in our society, those who vocally denounce corruption with the aim of undermining others, without a clear plan for fostering a better society, often end up perpetuating corruption and causing instability when entrusted with positions of authority. This underscores the importance of actively contributing to solutions rather than exacerbating existing problems.
Let us come together to support the ongoing educational transformation in Taraba with the understanding that we have the potential to grow and improve each day.
Any attempts to exploit this process for personal or political vendettas will only yield temporary results without long-term sustainability.
While none of our institutions or government agencies are flawless, through thorough assessments and reports such as this one, we can be optimistic about gradual reforms that will propel Taraba State towards sustainable growth and development.
Amb Rikwense Muri, MSPSP, MNIPR.
President, Southern Taraba Youths Coalition for Peace (STYCOP)
