By Cross Udo, Abuja
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) over the weekend accused the federal government of frustrating the University autonomy with the introduction of the Single Treasury Account (TSA).
President of NAAT, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma disclosed this while reacting to a recent comment credited to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, to the effect that universities generate funds through the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.
The NAAT President noted that every revenue generated by the universities goes to the TSA which is controlled by the federal government.
He said, “It’s is good that the minister mentioned the University Autonomy Bill. But the question is, why they introduced the Single Treasury Account into the university sector that now says that everything that is generated by the universities should be paid into the government account?
“Why didn’t they consider the university autonomy when they introduced the Single Treasury Bill? So everything that is generated, is paid into that account. And so the government has owned up to the assets and liabilities of the universities and so they should be able to pay our bills.
“And again, as we are talking presently, you discover that the introduction of IPPIS has eroded the core responsibilities of the university councils. Before you can employ one person in the universities, you have to seek approval from the Head of Service, you have to go to IPPIS.
“That is not how the university is intended to run. It is against university autonomy and we have been protesting that.”
Nwokoma argued that if the government has done all these things to erode the autonomy of the universities, it has no right to blame the unions for bringing their demands to it.
