Lagos – The Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) has said that it was seeking ways to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to stay afloat.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the college, Dr Femi Majekodunmi, made the announcement at the Top Management Advisory Committee Retreat of the institution, held in Badagry, near Lagos.
The reports state  that the theme of the retreat is: “Sustaining ASCON Transformation in Period of Austerity’’.
Majekodunmi said the dwindling financial status of the country had affected the financial capability of the college.
He said the retreat was designed to look at the needs of the college to enable management to redouble efforts for the survival of the college.
“The financial pattern in the country today calls for creativity on the part of parastatals, due to the reduction of oil price worldwide and dwindling economic situation.
“The board of ASCON is concerned about the finances of the college and how it has been struggling to make ends meet.”
Majekodunmi said the college intended to create a situation where state and Local Governments would have input in the college by
enrolling their workers for training and development.
He said that with the available facilities, the college would stretch its training and development programmes to cater for the private sector.
“ASCON has a role to play in management development of any institution and we want to see thousands of Nigerians benefiting from our mandate.
“Though most banks and multinational companies have their internal training firms, we can key into the management, entrepreneurship and retirement programmes,” he said.
The Director-General of ASCON, Mr Akingbade Peters, said that the college was faced with the challenge of dwindling government subvention, due to the fall in crude oil at the international market.
Peters said that the decline in the IGR of the college was connected to dwindling government revenue.
He said that the shortfall in IGR was connected with a cutback in subvention to ministries, departments and agencies.
According to Peters, statutory allocations to State Government have also translated into declining patronage by clients of the college.
“As of today, our quarterly recurrent subvention cannot support our requirement for one month.
“Our over-head subvention does not get to the knees as such we have piles of unpaid claims and bills.”
Peters said that with the present financial position, the management of the college was strategising on ways of depending less on government.
He said the college would continue to collaborate with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and other agencies for institutionalisation of systematic training.
Peters said the college would introduce new training programmes, including conferences, workshops and roundtable discussions on topical issues.
According to him, the college will also strengthen its relationship with small and medium enterprises and run consultancies for them.