THE Federal Government has warned the chairmen and members of Governing Boards of parastatals and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education against mindless corruption and impunity.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, gave this warning when he inaugurated the Governing Boards of 19 parastatals and agencies on Thursday in Abuja.
He also inaugurated the Governing Councils of two Federal Universities, which are the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) with the former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Peter Okebukola as the Chairman and Maritime University, with the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Silva as the Chairman of the Council.
He urged them to respect the laws establishing the agencies and desist from the usurpation of duties of the day-to-day running of the agencies by their Chief Executives.
Some of the boards of agencies inaugurated include National Universities Commission (NUC) with Prof. Ayo Banjo, as Chairman: Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has Abubakar Mohammed as Chairman: and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), with Muhammad Dingyadi as Chairman.
The Elder statesman, Paul Unongo, was also inaugurated as the Chairman of Governing Board of Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) among others.
The Minister who read the riot act to the chairmen and members of the boards said: “We are running a government of change: change from impunity, arbitrariness, and recklessness to respect for rule of law and due process.
“Change from mediocrity and incompetence to meritocracy and target-driven purposeful governance.
“Change from mindless corruption and naked abuse of trust to patriotic nationalism and people-oriented governance and change from the old selfish way to the new patriotic way,” he said.
He lamented that the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari inherited “mess” from the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, saying in almost all agencies of government, impunity was the order of the day.
He said the very people that were entrusted with the business of governance and management of these agencies were the very same people spearheading the abuse of that trust and undermining of these agencies.
He also reminded the board members that their appointments were a part-time appointment that is concerned with policy formulation, and not attempting run the agencies, stressing that board and management are distinct entities with different responsibilities.
Adamu said education was a major pillar in achieving the change agenda and Nigeria’s journey to economic prosperity and national development.
He said in keeping with the change promise of the current administration, members of the boards were expected to carry out their assignments with professionalism, prudence, sincerity and patriotism.