Mirian Gom 
TARABA, Nigeria – The Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education has denied reports that the suspension of Yakubu Garjila, Rector of the Taraba State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, is linked to the institution’s TETFund intervention funds.
The ministry said the Taraba rector suspension instead followed an allegation that the college failed to comply with Governor Agbu Kefas’ directive to reduce tuition fees by 50 per cent.
The clarification came after reports alleged that the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mike Dio Jen, demanded access to TETFund intervention funds from the rector, resulting in a dispute between the two officials. The ministry rejected that account.
In a statement issued to clarify the matter, Dio Jen said the allegation against the college centred on its alleged failure to implement the approved tuition reduction.
“The allegation is that the College continued to collect tuition fees without implementing the approved reduction.”
“In view of the seriousness of the allegation, the matter is currently under investigation, and an investigative panel has been constituted to examine the circumstances surrounding the issue and establish the facts,” the commissioner said.
“The Ministry wishes to emphasise that the investigation is ongoing, and no final conclusion should be drawn until the panel completes its assignment and submits its report,” it said.
The ministry also acknowledged the role of the media in exposing alleged wrongdoing and holding public institutions accountable.
“While the media has a legitimate and important responsibility to investigate alleged wrongdoing in government and hold public institutions accountable, such responsibility must be exercised with equal commitment to accuracy, fairness, balance and proper verification of facts,” the statement said.
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