Kalu Okoronkwo urges a swift and decisive motion to cleanse the establishment of rot
The latest allegations of embezzlement and fraudulent contracts in opposition to the administration of Tertiary Schooling Belief Fund (TETFund)can be a giant dagger piercing by means of the hearts of upper schooling in Nigeria as it’s the solely company that has been counseled hitherto for serving to to bridge the infrastructural gaps in our tertiary establishments: universities, polytechnics and Faculties of Schooling throughout the nation.
As college students attempt for information and educators labour to impart it, the rot festering inside the corridors of the funding establishment threatens to undermine their noble pursuits.
The Fund’s procurement course of serves as fertile floor for corruption to flourish. It was just lately alleged that in a single occasion, TETFund paid a whopping sum of N2.9 billion to a questionable contractor for unexecuted job and couldn’t present proof for the execution of the contract, together with the listing of contributors, hyperlinks to the web portal for the coaching, and photos or video clips of coaching classes.
TETFund as an intervention company was set as much as present supplementary assist to all stage of public tertiary establishments with the primary goal of utilizing funding alongside undertaking administration for the rehabilitation, restoration and consolidation of Tertiary Schooling in Nigeria.
It was established by the Act of 2011 after repealing the Schooling Tax Act Cap. E4, Legal guidelines of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Schooling Tax Fund Act No. 17, 2003 and charged with the duty for imposing, managing and disbursing the tax to public tertiary establishments in Nigeria.
The principle supply of revenue accessible to the Fund is the 2 p.c schooling tax paid from the assessable revenue of firms registered in Nigeria. The Federal Inland Income Companies (FIRS) assesses and collects the tax on behalf of the Fund.
Nonetheless, beneath its lofty mandate lies a labyrinth of deceit, manipulation, and exploitation, perpetuated by these entrusted with its stewardship.
It’s a disturbing fact that corruption has woven its insidious tendrils deep inside the very cloth of TETFund and exacerbating the already dire state of the nation’s tutorial infrastructure.
In line with a report by Premium Instances, 5 days earlier than the top of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Tertiary Schooling Belief Fund (TETFund) secretly awarded a contract price over N3.8 billion in disregard for the legislation.
The stated contact lacked any proof of execution as investigations revealed additional that the Fund paid the contractor a complete sum of N2.9 billion in 4 installments between 30 June and 17 November 2023.
Additionally in violation of the legislation establishing it, TETFund sourced the funding for the undertaking from the 2023 annual direct disbursement finances domiciled within the company for using about 251 beneficiary establishments, that’s, public universities, polytechnics, and faculties of schooling throughout Nigeria.
The 2023 direct disbursement finances for these establishments which amounted to N15.2 billion was for Data Communications and Expertise Intervention Tasks. However as an alternative of releasing the funds to the establishments as mandated by legislation, TETFund illegally deducted upfront 50 per cent of the funds from every of the establishments, amounting to a complete of N7.6 billion.
It was additionally found that there was no proof of bidding for the contract as demanded by Nigeria’s procurement legislation. Approval was neither sought nor given by the Federal Govt Council (FEC) and even by the President.
“TETFund bypassed these obligatory necessities to award the contract tagged: ‘Capability Constructing Certificates Course (Communication, Entrepreneurship, and Productive Ability Improvement) inclusive of the Practice-the-Coach programme for 502 (5 hundred and two) contributors’” the report stated.
Additional investigation additionally revealed that the contract was awarded to an organization that has no purposeful web site whereas it’s described by TETFund as “an IP Licensee for Prof. Klaus Stierstorfer, a copyright proprietor and mental property proper holder in all vary of communication abilities improvement programs marketed globally beneath Edunet Options.”
The letter of contract award dated Could 24,2023 was signed by the Director of Human Sources and Common Administration, Kolapo Okunlola.
Nonetheless, upon enquiry by PREMIUM TIMES on the topic, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the physique statutorily empowered to manage contract awards for ministries, departments, and companies of the federal government, stated “the contract isn’t present in its database.”
The contract award is due to this fact a violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007, which by advantage of its part 15(a), as relevant to “all procurement of products, works and companies carried out by: the Federal Authorities of Nigeria and all procurement entities”. The legislation beneath part 15(c) solely exempts the procurement of particular items, works and companies involving nationwide defence or nationwide safety.
Additional findings revealed that on June, 30 2023, the corporate’s account with Constancy Financial institution Plc was credited with over N550 million by the Central Financial institution of Nigeria on behalf of TETFund. The switch is with mandate quantity CBN/PROJ/224/JUN2023. Over N820 million was moreover paid into the account on 12 July 2023.
Whereas additionally on 26 July 2023 and 17 November 2023, the sums of N1.5 billion and N62.68 million have been credited into the account by the CBN on behalf of TETFund, respectively.
Only recently too, the Human and Environmental Improvement Agenda (HEDA Useful resource Centre) petitioned the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee over alleged graft in TETFund.
The group urged the anti-graft company to analyze alleged irregularities surrounding the contracts awarded by the company.
The petition, which was addressed to Olanipekun Olukoyede, the Chairman of EFCC, was signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju.
Why the Financial and Monetary Crime Fee has waded into the matter by inviting the Govt Secretary, Tertiary Schooling Belief Fund, Sonny Echono, to reply to instances of corruption in opposition to the Fund, mere dismissal of the deep rooted corruption allegation in opposition to TETFund by the Govt Secretary with out tangible proof to show similar quantity to paying lip service to problems with endemic corruption plaguing the Nigerian society.
The politicization of TETFund exacerbates its descent into ethical chapter as positions of affect inside the group has change into bargaining chips within the political recreation, with appointments based mostly on loyalty relatively than competence. Consequently, certified people are sidelined in favor of cronies, eroding the establishment’s effectiveness and perpetuating a tradition of mediocrity.
The impression of TETFund’s moral erosion reverberates far past the confines of its places of work. It strikes on the very basis of Nigeria’s future, sabotaging the potential of a whole era. As funds meant for schooling are squandered and alternatives are denied, the desires of aspiring students are dashed in opposition to the rocks of corruption.
The publicity of TETFund’s unethical practices serves as a clarion name for accountability and reform. It’s crucial that swift and decisive motion be taken to cleanse the establishment of its ethical rot and restore religion within the energy of schooling to uplift and remodel society.
Transparency should be enforced at each stage, with stringent oversight mechanisms put in place to make sure that funds are allotted judiciously and utilized for the supposed function. These discovered responsible of corruption should face the complete drive of the legislation, serving as a deterrent to others who would search to use the system for private acquire.
Moreover, TETFund should reaffirm its dedication to meritocracy, appointing people of integrity and competence to guide the cost for change. Solely by means of a concerted effort to purge itself of corruption and embrace moral governance can TETFund reclaim its rightful place as a champion of schooling and a beacon of hope for Nigeria’s future.
Like their counterparts in non-public tertiary establishments, TETFund should develop as a matter of urgency a mannequin for governance constructions characterised by a better diploma of professionalism and accountability. With boards of trustees comprising skilled educators, trade leaders, and revered professionals.
The Fund requires a framework for strategic steering and oversight that prioritizes tutorial high quality and institutional integrity and shun the often-politicization of its management the place appointments are steadily influenced by partisan pursuits relatively than meritocracy, resulting in inefficiencies and mismanagement.
Within the battle in opposition to corruption, there could be no bystanders. It’s incumbent upon all stakeholders – authorities, academia, civil society, and the citizenry at massive to unite within the combat to cleanse TETFund of its moral impurities and pave the way in which for a brighter tomorrow. For within the phrases of Nelson Mandela, “Schooling is essentially the most highly effective weapon which you should utilize to alter the world.” Allow us to wield that weapon with braveness and conviction, and collectively, we will overcome.
Okoronkwo is a management and good governance advocate. He writes from Lagos by way of kalu.okoronkwo@gmail.com