The Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has reinforced its commitment to promoting good governance and minimizing administrative litigation within the education sector at its 3rd Annual Retreat for Legal Advisers, Registrars, Principals/Vice Principals of Unity Colleges, and Administrative Officers.
The retreat, which took place over three days, was aimed at addressing institutional governance challenges and enhancing administrative prudence.
Dr. Mufida Hussain Bello, representing the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, highlighted the event’s importance in fostering a culture of compliance and reducing litigation.
Dr. Ahmad emphasized: “Participants must adopt actionable strategies that would enhance compliance, safeguard the integrity of the education system, and minimize resources lost to avoidable litigations.”
Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the Permanent Secretary, represented by Dr. Yusuf Saheed, acknowledged the significant costs of administrative lapses, which often lead to costly litigation and reputational harm.
He stressed: “The Ministry is resolute in entrenching a culture of compliance with extant laws and due process.”
The Acting Director of the Legal Department, Mr. P.C. Ike, welcomed participants and lauded the Ministry’s commitment to institutional excellence.
He noted: “The retreat provides a platform to interrogate, harvest, and implement basic laws and principles guiding public administration in educational institutions.” Ike encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained to their daily operations, emphasizing adherence to due process and rules to avoid unnecessary disputes.
Mr. Geoffrey Uwadiegwu Oputa, Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Justice Watch, shared the retreat’s goal of addressing conflicts within the education sector’s administration, board members, staff, and executives.
He explained: “The goal is to reduce or eliminate conflicts, subsequently decreasing litigation and associated costs,” and emphasized the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) tools in preventing litigation.
The retreat featured sessions on conflict management, compliance with procurement laws, and the use of arbitration and mediation. The Ministry expressed confidence that the retreat would strengthen the capacity of legal and administrative officers, reduce litigation, and enhance governance frameworks within the education sector.
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