••• As Governor Diri Tasks Panel Members On Thorough Job.
Bayelsa State Government on Wednesday, inaugurated the Visitation Panel for the five State-owned tertiary institutions, stating that the exercise is crucial for evaluating the institution’s progress and determining the necessary support from the state government.
The five State-owned tertiary institutions were, University of Africa, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa Medical University Bayelsa Polytechnic and Isaac Jasper Boro College.
Inaugurating Chairmen and members of the panel at the Exco Chambers of Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Diri charged the members of the panel to be thorough and to engage stakeholders in the institutions in the discharge of their assignments.
He tasked the panel members to, among other things, review the financial management of the institutions, investigate the application of funds allocated to those institutions for specific projects, and assess staff as well as staffing development and programmes.
The State helmsman also charged them to appraise the internally generated revenue of the affected institutions, scrutinise student enrollment, and assess the conditions of physical infrastructure and facilities relevant to the smooth running of the institutions.
He also said that education, as the bedrock of any meaningful development informed his administration’s decision to always accord full attention to all-important sector as required.
Diri, who advised management of various institutions not to see the panel’s visitation as a witch haunt, urged them to cooperate and support the panels with transparent and accurate information, as well as engage in constructive dialogue that will foster development instead of being defensive and resistant.
The State chief executive,
further asked the panel members to be faithful and carry out their work with the highest level of integrity, while stressing that he expects the best from them given the professionalism they exhibited in their various fields of endeavour.
While reading out the Panel’s terms of reference, the governor charged the members to complete their assignment and submit the report to government within four months from the date of their inauguration.
“As a government, we need to know the actual position of the university so that we can provide the necessary assistance for its growth. That is why this panel has been put in place. You have been carefully selected to carry out this responsibility, and I have no doubt that your work will lead to further advancements and add more value to the institution,” Governor Diri said.”
Speaking on behalf of other Chairman Visitation Panel to African University, Dr O.O Osusu, who appreciated the State Government for finding them worthy to serve, l assured that the panel would carry out its duties with professionalism and objectivity.
