From: Agaju Madugba, Katsina
A visitation panel set up by the Katsina State Government to probe finances of its four higher institutions has indicted the schools, accusing them of keeping poor financial records.
The panel also described as abuse of financial processes the manner the institutions kept their financial records.
Governor Aminu Bello Masari had raised the visitation panel, headed by Prof. Danjuma Maiwada, to probe sundry activities at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsinma and Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman College of Legal and General Studies, Daura.
Presenting its report to the Governor, on Tuesday evening, the panel said that, “in some institutions there are abuse of financial regulations, poor financial record keeping, and financial regulations not strictly observed and adhered to and in the case of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, the financial statement and audit report were not signed.”
The report also noted that the “Vice Chancellor of the Umar Musa Yar’Adua University is averse to consultations, suggestions and recommendations and by-passes his principal officers in matters of purchases and supplies.
“Aside the fact that the institutions operate multiple bank accounts, fees paid by students for particular purposes are not paid in to designated accounts.
“The panel also notes that there was agitation at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University over issues relating to disengagement of pre-degree and remedial staff, Promotion exercise of academic and non academics staff , over taxation and withdrawal of students due to low Cumulative Grade Point Average.”
According to the report, there are a total of 29,237 students in the four institutions with a total number of 1,247 academic staff out of which 69 have PhDs; 248 are with master’s degrees while 295 are undergoing PhD/Masters studies and 635 have first degrees.
Receiving the report, Governor Masari said that another committee would be set up to draft a white paper on the report.
