The Nigeria’s Federal House House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and Other Higher Technical Education has raised concerns over alleged financial and administrative infractions at three federal polytechnics in northern Nigeria.
The institutions include Federal Polytechnic Mubi in Adamawa State, Federal Polytechnic Monguno in Borno State, and Federal Polytechnic Damaturu in Yobe State.
The Committee, as part of its oversight responsibilities, summoned the Rectors and key management staff of the polytechnics to account for their budget performances and address allegations of irregularities in the management of funds allocated to their institutions.
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The Committee however uncovered multiple infractions in the documents presented by the three institutions, highlighting issues such as violations of the Federal Character principle in employment, extra-budgetary expenditures, and recurring instances of abandoned or uncompleted projects in one of the institutions.
During the presentation by Dr. Abdulrahman A. Ishaku, Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, the Committee discovered that several projects, which were initially scheduled for completion within two to three years, remain unfinished despite receiving adequate budgetary allocations.
The Committee expressed its displeasure over the prolonged non-completion of a staff quarters and administrative block project by an institution, despite the projects recurring in the budgets for several years.
Speaking during a meeting on Friday, Hon. Emil Inyang, who represented the Committee Chairman, Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, expressed frustration over the delays.
He lamented that despite repeated budgetary allocations, the projects remain incomplete, raising concerns about accountability and effective project implementation.
The chairman of the committee expressed displeasure over inconsistencies in the presentation of the institution’s capital projects.
Addressing the representatives, he said: “Physical Planning, can you show me where you rolled over the project to 2023? It’s not here. Is it in the 2024 budget? Why do you come here to lie? Where is it? That admin block, is it in use? Has it been completed? So, you have abandoned it.”
He further queried the state of other projects, citing specific examples:
“Construction of staff quarters, Item number Nine under 2022 capital projects have you seen it, Rector? What is the state of that building? According to this document, it is completed, yet you are saying it is still awaiting fittings. Are fittings not part of completion?”
The chairman lamented the lack of accountability and urged the institution to provide clarity and transparency on the status of its projects.
