FG Moves to Meet ASUU’s Demand, Constitutes White Paper Committee

By Derrick Bangura.

The federal government has taken a step toward addressing one of the union’s issues, four days into the one-month warning strike launched by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
This was accomplished by the government on Thursday when it announced the formation of 21 panels to produce White Papers for the reports of visits previously sent to Nigerian higher institutions in order to examine the activities of the various tertiary institutions around the country.
The Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, formed 10 panels for 36 universities, six for 25 polytechnics, and five for the 21 colleges of education, according to Ben Goong, Director, Press, and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education.
The panels that will be inaugurated in the following days have been allowed two weeks from the day of inauguration to submit their reports, according to the statement.
ASUU had demanded that the government release White Papers on the reports of the visitation panels constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2021, to visit the 88 tertiary institutions across the country.
The university lecturers had lamented that many months after the submission of reports to the government it was yet to release the White Papers.
While declaring its warning strike on Monday, ASUU had demanded an immediate release of the White Papers to address the lapses in the administration of federal universities.
The panels, which were constituted based on ASUU’s request, had submitted their reports to the education minister in August 2021.
While receiving the report, Adamu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Chukuwuemeka Nwajiuba, had promised that the government would give adequate attention to the recommendations contained in the reports.
Parts of the visitation panel’s term of reference in April 2021 included a review of each institution’s performance in the areas of governance, academic standards, quality assurance, financial management, management and staff relationships, as well as the school’s infrastructure and instructional materials.
The inspection panels were also required to evaluate the institutions’ financial management, compliance with procurement regulations, and the use of cash, notably special grants and loans given for specific projects, among other things.

“Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, has established White Paper Drafting Panels for Tertiary Institutions across the country, following the receipt of reports from Visitation Panels to Tertiary Institutions last year.”
“Minister Of education, Adamu Adamu, has established White Paper Drafting Panels for Tertiary Institutions across the country, following the receipt of reports from Visitation Panels to Tertiary Institutions last year.”

“Ten White Paper Drafting Panels have been established for 36 universities, while six Panels have been established for 25 polytechnics, and five Panels have been established for 21 colleges of education.”

“For four Inter-university Centres, one Panel will prepare a White Paper.

“From the date of inauguration, all Panels have two weeks to submit their reports.”