TETFunds proven accountability under Bogoro


UJI ABDULLAHI ILIYASU in this report, examines some of the activities of the Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, and says his propensity to probity and accountability is unassailable despite misrepresentation of facts by his detractors. 

Background

Bogoro, a public officer who goes about his official assignments with such zeal as if the next hour will be too late, has been inundated with false claims of misappropriation of funds by some attention-seeking compatriots. Not just once or twice, he had been accused of misappropriation of funds in the course of his official assignments by his detractors. But close associates of the TETFund boss know that his strong patriotic tendency and moral discipline are unassailable despite the lure of the office that holds billions of naira in trust for Nigerian public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The recent claim was a report on some national dailies that the House Committee on Tertiary Education had accused TETFund of failing to audit its account for five years. The Director of Public Affairs of the Fund, Mr Abdulmumin Oniyangi, who spoke to Blueprint on the matter on Monday, described the report as lacking in substance and a miscarriage of fact. He said the House Committee in question did not accused TETFund of unaudited account but the committee only refused to accept the Director of Finance of  the Fund, Mr Idris Alkali, as Bogoro’s representative during their sitting, so wondered where such malicious story emanated.

Accountability beyond doubt

Bogoro was at TETFund as Executive Secretary between 2014 and 2016 before he was removed based on an unsubstantiated allegation of misappropriation of funds by the then newly inaugurated APC-led government. But nearly three years after reviewing his case, he was found innocent, therefore, was recalled and reinstated to the same office; something that had never happened in this country at that level. 

Falsehood gallops

Last year, NEITI gave a damning report on TETFund that between 2012 and 2016, TETfund had spent N963.3bn naira without guidelines and accountability; the allegation Bogoro dismissed as mere distraction in an exclusive interview with Blueprint. So, accusing TETFund by those who are eyeing the monies meant for Nigerian higher schools and research is commonplace.   I will tell you one thing. I am too focused to be distracted by speculators. I tell you out-rightly that they were wrong.

They should do their homework thoroughly next time.  They should not just talk because they want to malign somebody. TETFund fund is not from the federation account.  Go and check our law,” Bogoro stated in reaction to NEITI report.

Speaking after his reinstatement at TETFund in 2019, Bogoro said, “It has been so far so good. My reinstatement miraculously by Mr President is unprecedented in public service. For a government who disengaged you from your position to reinstate you not just in the service but in the same position is a miracle.  Since then I appreciate God and Mr President.  You can imagine how many people out there who did not know the fact. I thank Mr President for giving me the reprieve.  As far as I was concerned, I was condemned and the government decided to probe me because I requested for it. 

The probe panel established that the basis for my disengagement was wrong. So graciously, I was reinstated.  I came back with renewed vigour to do even more than what I did during my first tenure, that was one year 10 months.  Ad hoc committees Bogoro has so far inaugurated scores of committees which have been mandated to solve crucial issues in the Nigerian higher institutions of learning. These issues border on research and development, book publishing and impact assessment of TETFund interventions in the last 20 years in the nations tertiary beneficiary institutions. 

Among public institutions in Nigeria, it is only TETFund under Bogoro that inaugurated dispassionate professionals from outside to assess its activities in 20 years. This wouldnt be possible by a public officer with questionable character.

Recognition of selfless service

In recognition of his selfless service to the nation, Bogoro has been deservedly recognised and given awards in March 2020 as the Public Service Person of The Year and Excellence in Public Service by two media houses in the country. Concern for Nigeria During the inauguration of the Committee on Book Development, Bogoro poured out his heart on the establishment of Academic Publishing Centres (APC) designed for the nations scholars in the six geopolitical zones of the country.During each of these occasions, he spoke and looked as if he had found the formula for the much needed industrial revolution for the country. His concern for Nigerias slow pace of socio-economic development was written all over his face. His speeches poured forth from   his heart as if Nigerias survival depends on how effectively he runs the Fund. He is one public officeholder who feels for Nigeria as a responsible man would feel for the problems of his family members.N359bn unaccounted for in 2013Last year, the Executive Secretary told journalists in Abuja that the sum of N359bn was withdrawn in 2013 from the account of the Fund without due process.He spoke while responding to questions from members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Services who came to TETFund office during an oversight visit.

 When making clarification on the missing fund, the TETFund boss said the management had to file various petitions to the Ministry of Finance and National Assembly, all in a bid to recover the money from the government to no avail.The House Committee led by Hon. Aminu Suleiman, made reference to the fund in their audited financial reports during the visit. Under the guise of borrowing, the total sum of N359bn was taken out between September and December 2013 without any consultation, whatsoever, but with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) coming into place in 2015, a lot of things have changed.On that amount, I think there was about N128 bn taken out in one tranche that had nothing to do with education, we had to write the Ministry of Finance requesting for the money, it was even ascribed to me by some mischievous persons. We, however, appreciate the National Assembly members for their concerns and efforts to see that these monies are refunded to us by this year because it will help our accounts to be more balanced, Bogoro said.

A corrupt personality wouldnt have uncovered fraud in an agency he leads because those living in glass house do not throw stones.Why TETFund submitted 2014, 2016 accounts late TETFund, last year, said in response to the National Assembly enquiry over a report of Auditor-General of the Federation, which alleged infractions by the fund in the submission of its 2014, 2016 accounts, the delay was due to a lack of a Board of Trustees (BOT) which slowed the signing and submission of the Funds accounts.Bogoro who spoke during his appearance before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, however noted that all the accounts had been submitted in 2016 and 2018.He said TETFund had evidence of submission of the 2014 account on February 4, 2016 with signatures of all the auditors while his predecessor, Dr Abdullahi Baffa, signed the documents as the Executive Secretary.

The TETFund boss explained that the fund had a lacuna of Board of Trustees as it was not in place at the time the accounts were due for submission and that contributed to the delay.We had a lacuna of the Board of Trustees because between 2015 and 2016, there was no board, that contributed to the delay; we assure that we shall not ordinarily want to delay the audited accounts. 

Speaking further on the agencys transparency, he said the accounts of 2017 were duly rendered in 2018 and signed by his predecessor Baffa and Chairman Board of Trustees, while that of 2018 was submitted in December of 2019.Under Bogoro, TETfund has, for the first time, engaged the services of an independent impact assessment committee to look into the activities of the Fund in the past 20 years.  It is only an in corruptive officer who will invite independent auditors to probe his activities.

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