Nasarawa State University Generates N900 Million To N1 Billion In A Semester —Nasarawa Varsity PRO

 

Rabiu Omaku

In this Interview with the Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi Muhammed Jamil Zakari, he  unveiled that the University Generates about N900 million to N1bn In Every Semester Across All Programs. He speaks on other issue.

The state government approached the National University Commission to set up a probe committee to investigate the financial recklessness, misappropriation and diversion of funds perpetrated by the vice chancellor, how can you react to this?

Our understanding is that there is, in fact already, an ongoing REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL AND ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNIVERSITY. Not INVESTIGATION as it is being speculated. The State Government approached the National Universities Commission (NUC) to do this. As a University, we cannot speculate about the wisdom of, or basis for, that decision. Indeed, for the avoidance of doubt, the Memo did not indicate that there was / is any “financial recklessness, misappropriation and diversion of funds by the Vice-Chancellor”. We should not therefore, in my view, preempt the outcome of the work of the PANEL.

When did the last auditing of finances and administration of the university take place?

There is in the University currently External Auditors who have been here for weeks doing routine auditing of University Financial Accounts covering the period July 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015. The last one ended June 30, 2013. Internal and External Auditing have been a regular practice in the University over the years.

The university generates about two hundred million naira every month as internally generated revenue? Is this true?

We do not classify Revenue Generation in the University on Monthly Basis. Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) are collected periodically. Sources of IGR are basically School Fees and Sale of Forms. This happens mostly at peak periods covering June for Sale of Forms and around October to December when New and Returning Students resume new Academic Sessions. Total internally generated revenues collectible across all our programmes: Postgraduate, Undergraduate, Diploma, Sandwich, Part-Time, Preliminary Studies and Remedial Studies hover around N900M to N1bn annually. This amount is used basically to supplement shortfalls from our monthly subvention at the tune of N70M monthly * 12 = N840M and pay Other Charges such water, electricity, diesel, stationary etc etc. 

May we know the total number of academic staff by programmes, qualifications and ranks with dates and status of academic programmes offered by the university?

Professors, Associate Professors / Readers, Senior Lecturers down to Graduate Assistants, we have about 500no (Five Hundred) as at September, 2016. There are others on Contract, Sabbatical, Visiting and Part-Time.

Can you intimate us on how much IGR was generated through sandwich programs?

IGR from Sandwich programs alone is around N80M.

What are the challenges of the university?

Challenges range from more finances as running a University system is universally acknowledged to be capital intensive; Staffing (also tied to finance); capital projects and improved infrastructure such as additional classrooms, lecture theaters, offices, more roads, library etc.

Has the Nasarawa University Keyed into the Treasury Single Account of the current Federal government?

The University has since keyed into TSA.