Benue Gov Sets Up Visitation Panels To Probe State-Owned Tertiary Schools

With a view to repositioning government-owned tertiary schools in line with the ideals of the ‘Strategic Development Plan for a Greater Benue’, the State Governor, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has on Monday inaugurated five Visitation Panels saddled with the responsibilty to audit the activities of the management of state-owned tertiary institutions from 2016 to the present day.

Inaugurating the panels at the new Banquet Hall in Government House Makurdi, the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, mni, urged members of the panels to be thorough, dedicated and committed in the discharge of their duties, as their findings would be of great help in the overall development of the institutions.

“Our schools deserve functional facilities, prudent management and the conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning. All these highlights the need for the inauguration of these Visitation Panels”, he stated.

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The Governor who explained that members “have been given the power to investigate, to delve into the details, and to make recommendations that will shape the future of these educational institutions”, also mandated the management and staff of the affected schools to extend their full cooperation to each of the panels to enable them succeed in their assignment.

The terms of reference for the Visitation Panels as highlighted by the Governor include, to review the financial management of the institutions from 2016 to date; investigate the application of funds allocated for specific projects; appraise the internally generated revenue; and assess the condition of physical infrastructure and instructional facilities, among others.

In their separate remarks, chairmen of the panels all expressed their gratitude to the Governor for finding them worthy for the task, promising to carry out their work conscientiously and make recommendations that would reposition the schools for effective service delivery.

The affected schools are Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo, Akperan Orshi Polytechnic Yandev, Alfred Akawe Torkula Polytechnic Makurdi, College of Education Katsina-Ala and College of Education Oju.