EKITI STATE UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI PHYSICAL PLANNING DEPARTMENT EKITI STATE UNIVERSITY ADO-EKITI IGR SUMMIT PHYSICAL PLANNING DEPARTMENT: POSITION PAPER ON RESOURCES MOBILIZATION FOR INCREASED IGR BY BLDR E. O. ABULEFON, COORDINATOR PHYSICAL PLANNING DEPARTMENT BRIEF INTRODUCTION 1.1 Not so much was known of internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the Nigerian higher education Circles about two decades ago. For the era when there were fewer Universities in the Country and the oil revenue was available, the Federal Government provided all the funding for operations and Capital development, needs of the Universities. The Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), has continuously directed all Federal Universities to explore ways of generating revenue internally such that the Managements would not have to look up to the government for solving all their financial problems (okojie, 1999). The State Universities is not an exemption in this regards as the State government has also been clamoring for the higher Institutions in their domain to also explore ways of generating revenues internally. Internally Generated Revenue/Funds shall mean funds not constituting the proceeds of any loan Debt issuance, Equity issuance, Asset sale, insurance recovery or indebtness. The IGR concept implies that the Federal or State Governments would not have to accept full responsibility for providing funding for all its Universities on every expenditure heading. For example in our University, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, in the areas of staff salary and finance of Capital projects, the University had been responsible for a substantial part of these and for the University to survive therefore, the University must seek ways of earning additional revenue. locally and to use the same in any areas of needs that the government is not able or willing to provide for in a given budget period. Therefore, every University whether Federal, State or even private, is encourage to engage in the development of critical access to IGR because of the essential support that comes from it. 1.2 THE PHYSCAL PLANNING DEPARTMENT The roles of Physical Planning Department in any tertiary Institution cannot be underestimated most especially in the University system. The Physical Planning Department is the Department charged with the physical environmental planning of the University. This embraces planning, management, execution and development of the total built environment for specific functions. It also involves the new and rehabilitation of projects under the Major Capital and Minor Capital Projects classification. The Physical Planning Department in Ekiti State University started in 1990 and the Department has continued to operate as such. 1.3 MISSION The mission of the Physical Planning Department is the provision of Physical infrastructural facilities needed for the overall development of the University Community. To create a University that is especially functional and aesthetically pleasing. 1.4 VISION/PHILOSOPHY We are positioned to creating a conducive and functional built environment for teaching, learning and research activities of students and staff. Also recreation of available structures with the sustenance of basic facilities. We seek to provide adequate quality of architectural and engineering services to assist the University in meeting the core value of providing an attractive and modern campus environment, translating the University into a world class University Campus. 1.5CORE VALUES The following are our core values: -professionalism -integrity -efficiency -effectiveness -accountability -team work -innovation 1.6 OBJECTIVES (i)to create academically functional spaces (ii)to produce educational buildings of international standard (iii)to create a well landscaped Institution (iv)to offer sound developmental suggestions within available resources to Management (v)to enhance the cityscape of the University (vi)to always be in touch with development related donor agencies. (vii)to accurately forecast the future in terms of Planning and Implementation of projects. 1.7SERVICES OFFERED IN THE DEPARTMENT Architectural Design Land Surveying Quantity Surveying Building Services Space Management/Inventory Project Management Construction 1.8OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE The procedures, rules, practice, ethics and culture guiding the Operations of Physical Planning Department are as outline in the Standard Form of Building Contract in Nigerian (February 1990) and Conditions of Engagement of Consultancy Services in the Building Industry in Nigeria. The Department is also being guided by Public Procurement Act (PPA), CURRENT STATUS OF IGR IN THE DEPARTMENT The current status of IGR in the Department is not adequate, it needs improvement These are the areas where IGR is generated Telecommunications Network service Provider on Campus We have the following Telecommunication Network providers within the University: (1)MTN (2)Globacom (3)Airtel (4)Etisalat 2.1.3 BANKS We have the following Banks on the University Campus (1)GT Bank (2)First Bank (3)Eco Bank (4)Access Bank (5)Wema Bank (6)Heritage Bank (7)UBA Donation from the Contractors - ENACTUS 3.0 EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL PLANNING DEPARTMENT INTERMS OF IGR The Department is charged with Physical environmental Planning of the University, this embraces. Planning, Management, execution and Development of the total built environmental for specific functions. To create a University that is especially functional and aesthetically pleasing that can be favourably compared with any University in the world. However, the Department had been making possible efforts in generating IGR for the University in these areas: Through Tender fees Through Space Allocation for a) Markets b) Banks only GTB Through Telecommunication providers a) MTN b) Airtel Network Limited c) Globacom Nig. Limited d) Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (Estisalat) 4.0 CHALLENGES IN MEETING THE EXPECTED IGR It is believed that there is a fund gap that requires new creative means to fill if the students would not have to bear the full burden of the cost of education. This has given rise to the present high emphasis on IGR. The idea of the IGR is of high necessity. As it becomes clear that the Government cannot fully fund education, the role of IGR, therefore, becomes more critical. The challenges in meeting the expected result is as follows: Contractors and Consultants not renewing the registrations annually because majority of them did not get job for a year or two years or even more There is limit we can charge on Tender Fees because if it is on the high side Bureau of Public Procurement will query us There is no Committee that saddled to review the ground rent in place before but our Vice- Chancellor has constituted one recently. 4.1.5 Most of the Investors coming for private Partnership with the University are not sincere. The University had reached an agreement with private investors who want to partner with the University on BOT agreement especially on the Hostel after securing the agreements and necessary documents signed they will not come for the execution of the project Land issues challenges 5. POSSIBLE WAYS OF OVERCOMING THE ABOVE CHALLENGES The IGR of the Department can be improved if the following steps are taken Contractors and Consultants that registered with the University considered for Job opportunity whenever jobs is available SPACE ALLOCATION/LAND USE: The issue of compensations to the land owners should be slotted out with the State Government that has taking a substantial part of the University land by this should be addressed in order for the University to expand and build according to the Master Plan of the University TELECOMMUNICATION PROVIDERS The Telecommunication providers such as MTN, Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat. The present rate of ground rent should be reviewed upward and the same ground, rent should be applied to all and encourage others to partner with the University Encourage Private Partnership Initiatives in the areas of Hostels, supermarkets, Fuel dump e.t.c 5.1.6 Encourage Consultancy Services, Seminars and Workshops to increase IGR Fund Raising Initiative to increase IGR like the ENACTORS Give adequate regard of 10-20% of the proceeds to those Departments/Faculties that run them. 6. WAYS BY WHICH IGR OF PHYSICAL PLANNING CAN BE IMPROVED 6.1 The Team of professionals should set up Consultancy Services to handle Building Consultancies for the University and for other Institutions or Government Parastatals and Agencies. 6.2 Contractors and Consultant should donate certain percentage to the University from their fees Endowment /contributions to the University 6.3 Land issues should be resolved to allow land allocation and master plan to be strictly followed. 6.4 Banks should be paying ground rent to the University apart from social responsibilities only GTB is paying ground rent 6.5Organizing workshop/seminars on professional practice for professionals and Technical personnel. 6.6 The process of IGR should be high cost effective, by engaging highly skilled staff in this regards. The University restructuring should accommodate an IGR coordinator office to ensure that creative revenue generating initiatives are not stifled by long bureaucratic bottlenecks. 7.0 CONCLUSION The IGR issue is a good initiative, I therefore, commend the Vice-Chancellor for this great initiative especially at this point of huge economic misfortunes facing the Government. The role of IGR as inevitable alternative funding for University education in Nigeria. Thank you. Bldr. E.O. Abulefon Coordinator, PPD