Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has challenged tertiary institutions in the country to be accountable, innovative and infrastructure driven so as to make them centre of excellence.
Governor Okowa gave the charge [28-9-15] when he received the chairman, Prof. Abel Mac Diakparome and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU] Delta State University [DELSU], Abraka.
The Governor said that the universities must account for its internal generated revenues and utilise same for infrastructural development in the schools as government, going forward might not be able to fund the schools adequately.
“if we think that government can continue to fund every aspect of the university we will be making a mistake, the university must run itself so that it can account for every money it generates, the state government pay salaries and carry out infrastructure development in our tertiary institutions, the schools need to generate money and use same for infrastructural development. At the federal level, the universities have been able to carry out infrastructural development through money generated from consultancy”, he said.
Cotinuing, he said, “if we apply our knowledge into practice, the university will use the money generated to develop infrastructure”
Okowa called on the union to continue to partner with government in ensuring industrial harmony in the institution especially in this challenging times assuring that government would continue to dialogue with the union on moving the institution and the state forward.
“Labour is a critical stakeholder in the governance of the state, when labour partner with government, they create avenue to dialogue and seek solutions to the challenges we face, times are difficult and you are aware of the economic downturn nationally and globally, it is a huge challenge and we need to discuss and think together to maintain the present industrial harmony in the state. In this industrial diplomacy, we need to find a way where as a government we are able to meet the expectations of the people”, the governor stated.
He charged the union to “call on the school management to stay accountable, while we reason together and work together to make the school a centre of excellence”
Governor okowa promised to look into the issues of retirement age for the professorial cadre and payment of promotion arrears in the institution but called for the completion of the payroll and contributory pension schemes of the school.
Earlier, Professor Diakparome, Chairman, ASUU, DELSU, has assured Governor Okowa of the union's partnership with government in the maintenance of the existing industrial harmony in the institution.
He however appealed to the governor to look into the issues of the retirement age of professorial cadre as agreed with government, unpaid pension benefits and promotion arrears.
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