Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, the new Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), has pledged to promote accountability and improve staff welfare.
He made the promise while receiving hand over notes from Acting Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Rasheed, synergy among staff is needed to move the commission forward and achieve its mandate.
“Let us work together; let us be bold, honest and courageous; I will do my best to be open; to be transparent; to promote accountability.
“I will also ensure that staff who deserve anything in their welfare; in their salaries, allowances and promotions will get them as and when do.
“Everybody is a friend. I do not have foes in this place until they decide not to be.
“If you decide not be; then it is not a crime; but if you decide not to a friend of the institution, of NUC, then you will be in crisis,’’ he said.
Rasheed said it was a special privilege to be given the opportunity to lead a commission charged with the responsibility of regulating universities.
The executive secretary urged the staff to eschew sentiments and gossips and be dedicated to their duties as incompetence would not be tolerated.
The professor of English Language said he had contacted past executive secretaries of the commission and would need their advice in piloting the affairs of NUC.
Earlier, Mafiana said he would work with the new executive secretary in stabilising the Nigerian University System (NUS).
He said the major problem confronting the NUS was data collection as many universities did not furnish the commission with accurate data.
Mafiana advised the new executive secretary to engage the staff unions in the universities in order to maintain uninterrupted academic activities.
“Federal Government’s attention should be drawn to start negotiations with the staff unions.
“All universities are due for visitation and we should conclude the process of ensuring that NUC regulatory roles are backed by law’’, he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Rasheed was the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano.
He is the pioneer Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Board of Jigawa State University and a Sabbatical Professor at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
NAN recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday appointed new chief executives for 17 education parastatals.
Prof. Julius Okojie, the immediate past Executive Secretary of NUC, completed his two tenures of five years apiece on Aug. 1 having been appointed on Aug. 3, 2006.(NAN)