‘We had to go back and lick our vomit’ – President Buhari

– President Buhari apologized for dissolving governing councils of universities and the boards of parastatal agencies

– “We said sorry and allow all the universities to continue with their councils”

–  Buhari revealed that the government was able to recover more than three trillion naira by insisting on TSA policy

– The president said that he had tried to ensure that the NNPC be reorganised

President Muhammadu Buhari has apologized to Nigerians for dissolving governing councils of universities and the boards of parastatal agencies.

Last month the government sacked the boards of the National Open University of Nigeria and the 12 federal universities that were established by the administration of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.

Premium Times reports that Buhari offered the apology speaking at the National Executive Council meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Thursday, March 24.

“We gave a blanket order which we had to rescind when we said all boards are suspended or dissolved.

“We had to go back and lick our vomit in terms of universities councils because we found out that according to their laws, they cannot choose vice chancellors unless the councils sit and interview candidates who want to be VCs.

“So, there is nothing wrong in saying sorry and going back on your decision. So, we said sorry and allow all the universities to continue with their councils. So, please, try to bear with us as we reflect on where we found ourselves,” he said.

READ ALSO: Top 10 takeaways from Buhari’s speech at NEC meeting

Speaking about the TSA, the president noted that the government was able to recover more than three trillion naira by insisting on this policy.

“If you go and see the Central Bank Governor, he will tell you that in the TSA, we have more than N3 trillion. Where would this money have been if TSA was not in vogue?

“I was made to understand that vouchers would have quickly been raised towards the end of the financial year and checks made whether they are going into projects or private pockets, nobody can prove it to you.

“But that money is there, it is identified, if is quantified and when the budget comes back eventually, the ministry of finance will see how to allocate it to the rest of the country,” he noted.

READ ALSO: Buhari addresses APC leaders at NEC meeting

Buhari said that he had tried to ensure that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation be reorganised, so as to know how much of crude is taken, sold and to which account the money was going.

“I tell you that up to the time we came, if anybody told you that he knows how much of crude exchanges hands either on the high sea or reaching their destination and the accounts the money goes into, that person is not telling you the truth.

“We are getting the cooperation of countries that had received this crude. But we have to be sure of the facts in our hands before we start prosecution so that Nigerians will believe what we have been telling them,” he said.

Delivering the opening address, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the national chairman of the APC, listed out the party’s major challenges and current priorities.

Calling on Nigerians to come together in difficult times, he stressed that the APC would stand behind Buhari and help the country and its leader to overcome all hardships.

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