FRC to partner with tertiary institutions on fiscal responsibility awareness

Mr Victor Muruako, the Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) says the commission is seeking to create awareness of fiscal responsibility initiatives in universities and Colleges of Education (COEs) in Nigeria.
Muruako said this when he visited the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, and the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.
A statement by Mr Bede Anyanwu, Head, Strategic Communications, FRC, on Thursday in Abua, said the commission hoped to deepen fiscal responsibility awareness and enthusiasm amongst Nigerian youths and the intellectual community.
Muruako said a survey of members of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) and selected lecturers showed lack of knowledge of the initiative in tertiary institutions.
He, however, requested its inclusion in the curriculum of the tertiary institutions, and collaboration with the regulating institutions.
Muruako said this would ensure the orderly and deliberate development of a well-coordinated and productive tertiary institution’s system, and guarantee quality and relevant education for national development and global competitiveness.
He said the term “relevant education for national development” covered education that prioritised discussions, advisories, instruction and research about how best to provide for prudent management of the nation’s resources.
He added that it would ensure long-term economic stability of the economy, greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations within a medium-term fiscal policy framework and promote and enforce the nation’s economic objectives.
These according to him, represented the purpose of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007.
To this end, Muruako said the commission intended to identify suitable youth influencers and equip them to spread the fiscal responsibility message amongst the youth population.
He added that the commission had started the implementation of this plan by leveraging its partnerships with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and others.
“This is with an intention to hold indoctrination sessions with members of ICPC’s Anti-Corruption Vanguard who are university students and believe that these frontline beneficiaries would pass on the message and commitment of fiscal responsibility,” he said.
He also said the FRC had a plan to reach lecturers of Social Sciences, Management, Business, Law and similar disciplines with information that would empower them to give attention to Fiscal Responsibility Management in the due coverage.
He appealed to NUC and NCCE to collaborate with the commission to hold workshops targeted at improving access to knowledge, teaching materials and effective methodologies for disseminating knowledge on Nigeria’s fiscal responsibility management.
Muruako said the collaboration with FRC to hold workshops was targeted at improving access to knowledge, teaching materials and effective methodologies for disseminating knowledge on Nigeria’s fiscal responsibility management.
According to him, it will entrench the required discipline in the growing population and form a more solid foundation for a better society.
Prof. Rasheed appreciated the FRC for coming up with the proposal and assured the commission that the NUC would do its bit to ensure collaboration and realisation of the required projects.
Prof. Okwelle of the NCCE applauded the commission in the effort toward promoting transparency and accountability in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.