The Acting Provost of Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies (AKCILS), Ali Tamasi Mu’az, has called for stronger teamwork and continuous capacity building among staff of the Academic Planning Directorate to enhance efficiency and improve service delivery within the institution.
Dr. Tamasi made the appeal when members of the Directorate paid him a congratulatory and familiarisation visit at his office following his appointment as Acting Provost.
Addressing the staff, he emphasized that the effectiveness of the Directorate depends largely on unity of purpose, collaboration, and collective commitment to institutional goals. He encouraged the establishment of an internal training framework that would enable staff members to share knowledge, strengthen professional competencies, and improve overall institutional capacity.
The Acting Provost disclosed that the College Management would review the possibility of returning the responsibility for lecture timetable preparation to the Academic Planning Directorate as part of efforts to strengthen its statutory functions.
He also urged the Directorate to intensify monitoring of budget implementation each semester to ensure that approved projects and programmes are executed in line with institutional plans.
Dr. Tamasi reaffirmed the management’s commitment to providing the necessary tools and facilities required for effective performance, particularly within the Academic Planning Directorate, which he described as a critical unit for the college’s planning and development processes.
He further assured staff that his administration would address the issue of frequent alterations to the college’s academic calendar, stressing the importance of adhering strictly to approved schedules to promote stability and effective academic planning.
“We are committed to restoring responsibilities to their rightful units. However, every staff member must be prepared to discharge his or her duties with dedication, commitment, and hard work,” he said.
Earlier, the Director of Academic Planning, Zainab Umar Sale, congratulated Dr. Tamasi on his appointment and expressed confidence in his leadership.
She highlighted the Directorate’s core responsibilities, including the preparation of the college’s academic calendar, annual personnel budget, and fiscal budget, among other strategic planning functions.
Dr. Zainab appealed to the college management to return the responsibility for lecture timetable preparation to the Directorate, noting that the function traditionally falls within the mandate of Academic Planning units in higher institutions rather than ad hoc committees.
She also requested additional office facilities, including computers, photocopiers, and filing cabinets, to improve operational efficiency and productivity.
The Director further called for the construction of more lecture halls to address scheduling challenges and appealed for the provision of the current minimum standards issued by the National Commission for Colleges of Education to support effective planning and monitoring activities.
In her remarks, the Deputy Provost (Administration), Dija Isa Hashim, supported the proposal to return lecture timetable preparation to the Academic Planning Directorate and encouraged staff to remain committed to improving the quality of their services.
Also speaking, the College Registrar, Raliya Aliyu Abubakar, explained that the establishment of the Lecture Timetable Committee was necessitated by the shortage of lecture halls, which required a coordinated approach to scheduling.
She, however, acknowledged that the responsibility for designing lecture timetables traditionally rests with Academic Planning Directorates in tertiary institutions.
The Registrar commended the Directorate for the visit and expressed appreciation for its continued contributions to the growth and development of the college.
The meeting highlighted the institution’s commitment to strengthening administrative efficiency, enhancing academic planning processes, and improving service delivery across the college.