President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, warned university administrators that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate any form of corruption in the education sector, saying that anyone found wanting would be prosecuted.
This comes as the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, attributed the current economic hardship in the country to the alleged misrule of past administrations, saying that the Federal Government must make some difficult decisions for the nation to survive.
The duo spoke at the Installation of HRH, Muhammad Sanusi II as Chancellor of the University of Benin.
President Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu, noted that the Federal Government was prepared to inject more funds into the education sector but warned against the mismanagement of the funds by the administrators.
He said: “This administration is committed to providing funding for the university system and indeed for the entire education sector. But I must warn that the Federal Government will not fold its hands and watch unscrupulous people mismanage all the viable resources that have been put into the sector. We will no longer tolerate this.
“The Federal Ministry of Education is to ensure that all leakages are blocked and this is a promise that we intend to keep. This administration is determined to fight corruption whether in the university system or elsewhere. Members of staff and students must be seen to do their part in this struggle to change our society for the better, it is not just the duty of government. We hope that other brother countries will support what the government is doing. Universities must be seen to be leading by example. Due process must not be compromised in all we do.”
Sanusi II, who became the ninth chancellor of the institution following his installation, said that despite the economic hardship, Nigerians must be thankful to God for a successful election and the prevailing peace in the country.
He said: “We had a peaceful election, we have a new government that has the opportunity to give this country a new lease of life. However, the government is taking office at a time of great difficulties, oil price crash. We are suffering due to the mismanagement of the past. Corruption issues have placed our economy in a precarious state and there will be need for difficult decisions and support for this new administration.”
