News
FRAUD!! Panel Uncovers N3.5bn Irregularities In Taraba Varsity Account
The visitation panel to the Taraba State University, on Thursday, said it uncovered financial infractions to the tune of N3.5bn in the university.
The chairman of the panel, Prof. Josiah Sabo-Kente, who addressed journalists in Jalingo on Thursday, the university operated a poor accounting system since its inception in 2008.
He added that the university was being operated below the minimum standards of the National Universities Commission.
The panel, therefore, recommended a total overhaul of the university system.
Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, had, on December 24, 2023, constituted the visitation panel with a 12-point term of reference to identify the challenges confronting the institution.
According to the governor, the report of the panel would enable the government to intervene and reposition the institution in line with the administration’s free education policy.
Passing down the verdict of the panel on Thursday, the panel chairman said, “The university has since inception in 2008 operated a poor accounting system. At a point from 2012 to 2016, the university operated without a cash book, making it difficult to reconcile the financial records of the university, but we used financial experts on the panel to make sense of the financial spending within the period.
“Financial infractions from 2010 to 2023 in the institution reveal significant discrepancies and irregularities, with the total of these amounting to over N3.5bn.
“This underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive investigation of the university’s financial management practices, including handling of statutory allocations and internally generated revenue.”
Sabo-Kente said the pattern and frequent turnover in the appointment of the chairman of the governing council without a university administration had adversely affected the institution.
According to him, the university was running 53 programmes with only 36 professors, 45 readers and 59 senior lecturers.
He decried the development whereby some departments had only one professor and 18 non-academic staff, saying such was unacceptable.
Kente further explained that the university faced a notable deficit in academic staff across its faculties and departments, with only 609 tenured academic staff members compared to the 1,819 non-academic staff.
He said, “Out of the number of academic staff, 218 are graduate assistants-in-training and 140 visiting, adjunct or sabbatical staff. This is against the NUC benchmark of 70 per cent academic staff and 30 per cent non-academic staff.”
The panel report also highlighted infrastructural challenges, such as lighting, water shortage, and insufficient medical facilities, among others and called for immediate action to address the challenges.
News
Joint Security Patrol Team wastes Kidnapper in gun duel along Enugu/Ukwu Road
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Joint Security Patrol team led by the Anambra state police command has neutralized a notorious suspected kidnapper along the Enugu/Ukwu road .
The operation according to the state police command spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga was carried out with local vigilante group who identified the suspect before he was chased and engaged in an exchange before he was neutralized.
The joint security patrol team was said to have responded to a distress call of the planned attack by the gang members of the suspect, before acting swiftly to the scene and engaged them, which led to some of the gang members escaping with bullet wounds.
One AK 47 rifle, two magazines and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspect, as manhunt for the fleeing suspects continue according to the police. The Anambra police command urges residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities in their area to the nearest police station for prompt action.
News
Just in : Dangote Refinery reduction in petrol price, now N970 per litre
The Dangote Group has announced a reduction in the price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N970 per liter.
This was contained in a statement issued by Anthony Chiejina, the Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, on Sunday.
Chiejina stated that the refinery has lowered its petrol price for marketers from N990 to N970 per liter, providing them with a N20 discount per liter.
Furthermore, he emphasized that despite the price reduction, the quality of the company’s products remains uncompromised.
The statement regarding the price adjustment reads:
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery has effected a reduction in the prevailing price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N990/litre to N970/litre for the marketers.
“As the year comes to an end, this is our way of appreciating the good people of Nigeria for their unwavering support in making the Refinery a dream come true. In addition, this is to thank the government for their support as this will complement the measures put in place to encourage domestic enterprise for our collective well-being.
While the refinery would not compromise on the quality of its petroleum products, we assure you of best quality products that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.
“We are determined to keep ramping up production to meet and surpass our domestic fuel consumption; thus, dispelling any fear of a shortfall in supply.”
News
Insecurity! Bandits k!ll 7 farmers, burn 50 bags of maize in Niger state
Bandits have k!lled seven farmers, including a vigilante, and burnt 50 bags of maize inside a truck in Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
Sources on Saturday, November 23, told Daily Trust that the victims had gone to bring the harvested maize home from their farm when the bandits ambushed them, k!lled all the occupants in the truck and set the truck.
Bandits have killed seven of our farmers who had gone to farm to bring the maize they had harvested home. The attackers hid and waited until after the victims had loaded the 50 bags of maize into the truck and were about to take off to return home when they opened fire on them. After k!lling the victims, they also set the truck and the 50 bags of maize already loaded ablaze,” a source said.
He said it was difficult for farmers in Mariga to harvest their crops this year due to k!llings and kidnappings by bandits.
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