FRC SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
Oru Leonard
Fiscal Responsibility Commission’s target at deepening fiscal responsibility awareness and enthusiasm amongst Nigeria’s youth population and the intellectual community received a major boost with the visit of the Chairman of the Commission to the Executive Secretaries of NUC and NCCE
Chairman Fiscal Responsibility Commission.
Barrister Victor Muruako took advantage of his visits to seek strong partnership with the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the National Universities Commission NUC with a view to creating awareness of Fiscal Responsibility initiatives to both Universities and Colleges of Educations in the Country.
Both the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed and the Executive secretary of National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle in their different offices appreciated the gesture of the FRC Chairman for the visit.
Buttressing the overriding need for the partnership, the FRC boss cited that a survey of National Youth Service Corp members and selected lecturers showed almost a lack of knowledge of the initiative in the Tertiary Institutions in the country and subsequently requested its inclusion in the curriculum of the tertiary Institutions.
Furthermore, Barrister Muruako congratulated the two Secretaries on the successful handling of the twin challenges of ASUU strike and Covid-19 which confronted the education sector in 2020.
The Chairman of FRC also asked for a collaboration with the regulating Institutions to ensure the orderly and deliberate development of a well-coordinated and productive tertiary Institution’s system that will guarantee quality and relevant education for national development and global competitiveness.
He expressed his conviction that the term “relevant education for national development” in their Missions covers education that prioritizes discussions, advisories, instruction and research about how best to provide for prudent management of the nation’s resources; ensure the long-term economic stability of the national economy, greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations within a medium-term fiscal policy framework; and promote and enforce the nation’s economic objectives. These according to him, represent the purpose of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007 as enunciated in its long title.
FRC Boss said, the Commission intends to identify suitable youth influencers and equip them to spread the fiscal responsibility message amongst the youth population noting that the Commission has commenced the implementation of this plan by leveraging its partnerships with ICPC and others to hold indoctrination sessions with members of ICPC’s Anti-Corruption Vanguard who are University Students and believe that these frontline beneficiaries will cascade the message and commitment to fiscal responsibility.
He noted that FRC has a plan to reach lecturers of academic disciplines in the Social Sciences, Management, Business, Law and similar disciplines with elucidations that will empower them to give due attention to Fiscal Responsibility Management in the due coverage of their respective course contents. The intersection of this dimension of classroom-trained persons with the first dimension of energized fiscal enthusiasts will provide intellectual firepower and conceptual cohesion to the passion and energy of fiscal evangelists in the field, leading to a buildup towards a critical mass, the FRC Boss emphasized.
He therefore, strongly appealed to NUC and NCCE to collaborate with the Commission to hold workshops targeted at improving access to knowledge, teaching materials and effective methodologies for disseminating knowledge on Nigeria’s Fiscal Responsibility Management.
Chief Muruako expressed his willingness to also hold sessions with Vice-Chancellors, Bursars, Registrars and other Universities and Colleges of Education administrators to enable them to understand the need, not only to support the identified group of lecturers with requisite teaching aids and create a conducive environment for student discussions, but also to appreciate their obligations and responsibilities under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
The canvased collaboration with the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to hold workshops targeted at improving access to knowledge, teaching materials and effective methodologies for disseminating knowledge on Nigeria’s Fiscal Responsibility Management will, in more than enough aspects entrench the required discipline in the growing population and form a more solid foundation for a better society.
Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed appreciated Chairman, FRC and his team for coming up with such a wonderful proposal and assured the Commission that NUC will do their bit to ensure smooth collaboration and the ultimate realization of the required projects.
On this Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle applauded the Commission in the effort towards promoting transparency and accountability in government Ministries, Directorates and Agencies.
(FRC Media)
