By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Head of The Civil Service Of The Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan has called for partnership with Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) to fashion out a new Scheme of Service to serve Federal Universities and ensure uniformity.
Yemi-Esan, the Number one Civil Servant in the country made the call at the 1st Workshop and 73rd Business Meeting of the Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) held at the Federal University, on Thursday in Lokoja.
The meeting was themed: “Repositioning the Administrative Machinery of the Nigerian University System for Global Competitiveness: The Role of Registrars as Key Drivers.”
The Head of Federal Civil Service in her keynote address titled: Critical Issues in Human Resources Management in the Nigerian University System: Reconfiguring for Excellence said the civil service was indispensable.
She said that the fundamental role of the Public Service was to serve the nation and the communities in a manner that would facilitate sustainable development.
“As Registrars, you are the professionals with the knowledge, expertise, skills and competences required for the human resource management job.
“I encourage you to exhibit expertise, professionalism, commitment and courage in administering these rules and regulations.
“Failure to do so, will encourage demoralisation, discontentment, petition writing, labour unrest, and confusion in the management of staff careers.
“A way out of these, is the creation of a Scheme of Service that will serve the Federal Universities and ensure uniformity.
“So, let me urge you to cooperate with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service in creating a Scheme of Service for our great learning Institutions”, she said.
Prof Olayemi Akinwumi, Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) hosting the ARNU Meeting described Registrars as the driving force behind the administrative machinery of universities.
He said that Registrars as Chief Administrative Officers of universities were pivotal to the achievement of the broad goals of Nigerian Universities.
Akinwumi described the theme of the workshop as “timely and relevant as we continue to strive for excellence towards positioning Nigerian universities for global competitiveness.”
“Personally, I attach great importance to this gathering as a valuable opportunity and veritable platform to strengthen bonds, discuss all areas of concern in today’s registries openly and frankly.
In her goodwill message, Kogi Head of Civil Service, Mrs Hannah Odiyo, appealed to the registrar to find lasting solution to Lecturers’ incessant strikes that have been affecting standard and growth of education in Nigeria.
Odiyo said that the appeal became necessary so that hardworking students who have maintained high grades from the beginning are not suddenly brought down unnecessarily by angry staff.