“It
is ironic that funds allocated for development and researches in the
universities are diverted into private pockets by unruly kleptomaniacs,”
he said.
He
also described as unfortunate, a situation where “universities have
been turned into contract awarding institutions without regards to rules
and regulations attributed to procurement processes”.
Magu
spoke at the closing event of the two-day retreat for National
Universities Commission (NUC) Committee of Vice Chancellors and Pro
Chancellors, which held at the NUC head office in Abuja, May 8 to 9,
2018.
Speaking
on the theme, “Elements of Statutory Governance, Procurement and
Financial Accounting in Nigeria Universities”, Magu stressed that the
EFCC remained resilient in the fight against corruption.
“We
at EFCC are passionate towards engendering accountability and
transparency through our proactive mechanism of checkmating corruption
and we will remain antagonistic against fraud and every form of
corruption in our institutions,” he said.
While
calling for partnership, he added that: “We may not eradicate
corruption completely because it is a crime as long as there are human
beings, but we will reduce it if we agree to work together.”
He
used the opportunity to intimate participants of ongoing efforts of the
EFCC at ensuring that anti-corruption course is incorporated into the
university curriculum.
“We
are partnering with the NUC to develop a robust curriculum in economic
crimes and anti corruption which will be integrated into the university
system,” he said.
Magu
acknowledged the strides in the educational sector, with the production
of great minds like Prof. Iliyasu Bakarau, Prof. Wole Soyinka and the
late Prof. Chinua Achebe, but noted that recent developments now place
the citadels of learning as an environment rift with corrupt practices,
maladministration and diversion of public funds.
“Our
universities must endeavour to change the current negative narrative
regarding the quality of education in Nigeria,” he said
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