Benue University owes N3.8 billion – VC

The Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, BSU, Makurdi, Msugh Kembe, says the institution is owing N3.8 billion.

Mr. Kembe said this on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the retreat for Deans, Directors and Heads of Academic Departments of BSU in Makurdi.

He explained that the debt included arrears of pension, death benefits and earned allowances liabilities.

“The university is in arrears of pension in excess of N500 million; death benefits liability of the university is close to N300 million while earned allowances liability is in excess of N3 billion,” Mr. Kembe said.

He said that BSU was no longer receiving overheads from the state government, adding that capital projects were mostly funded by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and ALGON.

The vice chancellor further lamented that efforts to improve internally generated revenue of the university by increasing user charges was frustrated.

In his address, the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of BSU, Zachary Gundu, warned lecturers against sexual harassment, admission racketeering and corruption.

“There are vices we must avoid if we have to build a BSU of our dream. Lack of transparency breeds rumours and speculations.

“We must also choose to be authentic and be prepared to cut away everything that is not ours.

“ If cultism is not ours, we must stamp it out completely.

“If cheating and plagiarism is not ours, we must reject everything about it. If sexual harassment is not ours, we must stand firmly against it.

“If admission racketeering is not ours, we must stamp it out quickly and if corruption is not ours, we must do everything possible to be above board,” Mr. Gundu said.

The don said the council was not satisfied with the quality of work of the institution’s projects and the quality of inventories kept in offices about suppliers.

He said that the institution must explore new ways of teaching and learning experiences and give the students opportunities to experience quality thereby improving standards.

“The student who is forced to put money in his or her project in order for the supervisor to grade it is passing through an experience that will destroy our reputation.

“The student who must sleep with a teacher before passing examinations will have a very poor idea of quality in the university, same for the one who pays or sleep with another to get admission, ” Gundu said.

He said that available records from the visitation panel showed that the previous management was not truthful to both staff and students, leading to much compromises in the system.

(NAN)