Prof. Faduyile assures Minister of Education of unwavering support of FCEs’ Council Chairmen.

By Steve Ovirih.

Prof. Dayo Faduyile, OON, Chairman, Committee of Chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Colleges of Education ( FCEs) has expressed the resolve of the Committee towards repositioning Colleges of Education in Nigeria for greater productivity.

Prof. Faduyile gave this indication as the Committee of Chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Colleges of Education had an interactive session with the Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa in Abuja on Thursday, 9th January.

Prof. Faduyile thanked President Bola Tinubu , GCFR for finding them worthy to be appointed as Chairmen of The Governing Councils of Federal Colleges of Education across Nigeria, reiterating their support for Federal Government in its quest to improve teacher education in the country.

He assured the Minister of Education of the support of Committee of Councils’ Chairmen as veritable partner in the actualization of the Renewed Hope Agenda. ” Be rest assured that you have found in us a veritable partner in the actualization of the Renewed Hope Agenda that will take teacher education to an enviable height.

” As we have started with our duties in our different Colleges , we have individually and collectively interacted with the Committee of Provost’s, Assembly of Registrars , Committee of Bursars as well as the leadership of the four unions : COEASU, SSUCOEN, NASU and NACETON, ” Prof. Faduyile noted.

He stressed that in the course of their interaction , they have been able to assess the major challenges stalling the growth of Colleges of Education in Nigeria and they have reached out in their bid to find lasting solutions.

Prof. Faduyile pleaded among other things with the Minister of Education to fast track the re-negotiation of the 2010 FG- COEASU agreement which he noted was nearing completion until it was stalled by the dissolution of Governing Councils. He noted that prompt conclusion of renegotiation will make it possible for the FG- COEASU agreement to be included in the 2025 budget.

Prof. Faduyile added that outsourced services in Colleges of Education has led to a precarious situation in which security of lives and property have become endangered, imploring federal government to consider reabsorbing staffs to perform the duties which had been outsourced to private organizations which staff are owed heavily leading to lackluster performance on the part of these staffs.

Prof. Faduyile specifically appreciated Federal Government for the establishment of six new Federal Colleges of Education and provision of prompt take off grant for these new colleges of education. ” The authorization to commence recruitment given to these institutions recently is highly appreciated,” Faduyile noted.

While calling on government to consider the issue of Governing Councils Funding as lack of budgetary head for the funding of Governing Council activities across the Federal Colleges of Education hamper their very important responsibilities, Prof. Faduyile appreciated Federal Government for the release in tranches of the N15 billion revitalization fund to the tertiary institutions, noting that the result of the earlier releases has reinvigorating effect on the colleges . He noted that the last tranche release has been more than a year ago and this has affected continuation of already awarded contracts across the Federal Colleges. ” We therefore wish to implore your office to call on the Ministry of Finance to ensure the release of the remaining tranches of the N15 billion so that contractors can be mobilized back to sites.”

Prof. Faduyile called Federal Government attention to the need for the N300 billion appropriated in 2023 budget to Federal tertiary institutions as revitalization funds yet to be accessed to be promptly released as the federal colleges of education which are to benefit from the fund are in dire financial straight.

He called on the Honorable Minister of Education to look into the issue of the non commencement of the Dual Mandate as he noted that this has affected enrolment negatively in the Federal Colleges of Education.

While thanking the Minister of Education for the timely interactive session, Prof. Faduyile maintained that the Committee of Chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Colleges of Education is poised to continue to support the Minister towards projecting government policies that will take teacher training to a higher pedestal in the federal colleges of education in the nation.