BY GLORIA USMAN, ABUJA – The Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris has stressed the need for a critical reexamination and reappraisal of other sources of income for Nigerian universities and their judicious application for the good of the system.
This is as he called on the tertiary institutions to entrench the ideals of transparency, accountability and openness in the management of financial resources of tertiary institutions.
Idris, who stated these when the Association of Bursars of Nigerian Universities paid him a visit in Abuja, said that judicious management of finances have become imperative, particularly now that revenue inflows is becoming a challenge.
He therefore charged Nigerian Universities to be more innovative, up and doing with regards to internally generated revenue as additional source of funding so that they won’t have to look up to the government for revenue on all matters that require funding.
According to him; “The Government built the infrastructure, Government pays the overhead, Government pays the personnel cost”.
On the ongoing government financial reforms initiatives, the AGF noted that the determination of the federal government to entrench transparency, accountability and openness in the management of public finances informed the implementation of the ongoing financial management policies.
He urged the universities to key fully into the vision of the government, adding that based on his interaction with some members of the university community, there is an obvious gap of misunderstanding regarding some of the reforms and the gap has resulted in the animosity towards the reforms initiatives.
Idris tasked the Bursars, as managers of financial resources in Nigerian Universities, to undertake to enlighten and educate other employees of universities on the reform initiatives.
He commended the cordial relationship that has existed between his office and the Association of Bursars of Nigerian Universities, adding that the Treasury and the Association have been interacting at different levels and on various issues, all geared towards bringing about the best in terms of management of finances of Nigerian universities.
Earlier, the Chairman of Association of Bursars of Nigerian Universities, Dr. Victor Imagbe, said the essence of the visit was to appreciate the Accountant General of the Federation on the financial management reforms and the impact of the reforms on the system.
