By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Federal Government has inaugurated the Special Visitation Panel to look into the institutional crisis rocking the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos State. Chaired by former Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, SAN, the 11-member panel is expected to conclude its assignment and submit its report within four weeks.
Inaugurating the committee, Maruf Alausa, Minister of Education, said it is not a fault-finding mission driven by sentiment but structured intervention intended to restore institutional integrity, good governance, and an environment conducive to learning and academic growth.
He expressed worry that the prolonged institutional crisis at the College, had disrupted normal academic and administrative operations. This, he emphasized, posed a serious threat to governance
Terms of reference of the committee include to: review the actions and roles of staff unions during the period of unrest; investigate the conduct and performance of former and acting Provosts, especially as it pertains to administrative lapses such as delays in signing official documents; identify individuals or groups responsible for misconduct, including the physical locking of the Provost’s office and obstruction of legitimate duties; assess the impartiality and effectiveness of the College’s internal disciplinary systems, and the roles of key officials, including the Registrar and internal council members.
Responding, the panel chairman assured that the panel would strictly stick to its responsibility, noting that the members would justify the confidence reposed in them by the Minister. Abubakar assured that the committee would leave no stone unturned in getting to the roots of the matter. Other members of the panel include Dr. Adamu Kwami; Prof, Faruk Haruna (Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Education, Kontangora) and Dr. Smart Oluebeko (National President, College of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU).
