FG Warns VCs Over Diversion Of Staff Entitlement Funds

The Federal Government has warned Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities against the diversion, mismanagement or withholding of funds earmarked for the payment of staff entitlements, particularly the Clinical and Teaching Allowance (CATA), Consolidated Tertiary Allowance (CONTA) and Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

The warning was given by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a meeting with Vice Chancellors, in reaction to reports that staff of some Federal Universities were yet to receive their legitimate entitlements.

Alausa expressed concern over the development, noting that despite the funding intervention made by the Federal Government to address the challenge of funding in the university system, some universities were still delaying the payment of entitlements to their workers.

He said it was not right and not acceptable that workers who had diligently served the university system were being denied their entitlements as and when due.

According to the Minister, the Federal Government had intervened to address the funding challenge and had gone further to pay arrears of CATA, CONTA and CONMESS up to September, adding that administrative lapses on the part of university managements should not be allowed to undermine the welfare of staff.

He therefore urged Vice Chancellors to work closely with relevant authorities to resolve all outstanding issues relating to the payment of staff entitlements and to ensure that payments were made without further delay.

Alausa also emphasized the need for prudent and transparent application of personnel funds, stressing that such funds must be applied strictly for their approved purposes and must not be diverted to other uses.

He further called for transparency and accountability in the handling of matters relating to recruitment and appointments in Federal Universities, noting that adherence to due process was critical to sustaining confidence in the system.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to university autonomy and to the welfare of university workers, stating that autonomy must go hand in hand with responsibility, transparency and accountability.

He called on Vice Chancellors to sustain constructive engagement with the Federal Government, to prioritise staff welfare and to promote industrial harmony in their institutions in order to minimise avoidable disruptions to academic activities.