Fedpoffa Management Reacts To 500M Accreditation Fraud

The attention of the Management of The Federal Polytechnic Offa, has been drawn to a publication by Daily Post on August 11, 2025, titled “Federal Poly Offa: ASUP decries N500m accreditation fraud.” The story, which heavily referenced statements by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Offa Chapter, is not only misleading but unfair to the institution, its management, and the hard-earned reputation it has built over the years.

The Polytechnic is scheduled for the accreditation of 61 programmes, not 21 as reported.

The ₦500 million in question was only a proposed budget, collated by the Director of Academic Planning at the request of Management for presentation to the Governing Council, as required by due process.

The initial submissions from various departments for the forthcoming accreditation exercise amounted to approximately ₦900 million. However, in line with the Polytechnic’s well-known tradition of financial prudence and accountability, this figure was meticulously reviewed and significantly reduced to about ₦500 million without compromising the quality and standards required for the exercise.

Out of this amount, over ₦300 million has been earmarked for the purchase of modern, high-quality equipment spread across all academic departments. These includes Engineering Technology, Applied Sciences, Food Technology, Mass Communication, Computer Science Technology, Management Studies, and other relevant fields. This strategic investment will not only meet the NBTE’s accreditation requirements but will also strengthen the Polytechnic’s teaching, learning, and research capabilities for years to come.

In addition, statutory accreditation fees will be fully paid as mandated by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The remaining funds will cover essential logistics, such as transportation, hotel accommodation, feeding, and other necessary arrangements for the 85 NBTE-appointed Resource Persons who will be visiting the Polytechnic to conduct the rigorous accreditation exercise.

When these figures are carefully broken down, it becomes evident that the budget is neither excessive nor wasteful. On the contrary, it reflects a balanced, well-considered, and responsible approach to meeting accreditation needs while ensuring the judicious use of public resources. Indeed, when benchmarked against similar large-scale accreditation exercises conducted by other institutions nationwide, the Polytechnic’s proposed budget stands out as reasonable, transparent, and value-driven.

This approach reaffirms the Management’s unwavering commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, and sustainable academic growth, while ensuring that every naira spent translates into lasting benefits for the institution, its staff, and its students.

The Polytechnic Accreditation Committee is already predominantly made up of ASUP members by virtue of their positions as Deans, Heads of Departments, and senior academic staff. Creating another “ASUP slot” would be a needless duplication. The accreditation process is technical and guided strictly by NBTE procedures, not union arrangements.

The suggestion that the Rector and the Director of Academic Planning intended to siphon funds is false, malicious, and damaging to the integrity of both officers and the institution.

The accreditation budget is subject to scrutiny at multiple levels; Department, Management, Governing Council, TETFund, and NBTE making any such alleged fraud impossible.

Disbursements are made in line with federal financial regulations, all of which are subject to internal audit, external audit, and oversight by relevant government agencies.

Contrary to the claim that the Polytechnic is “degenerating,” the institution under the current Rector, Engr. Dr. Kamoru Kadiri, has recorded unprecedented infrastructural and academic development in just over two and a half years. Among these are:

Completion and commissioning of multiple TETFund-sponsored lecture halls, laboratories, and offices.

Upgrading of ICT infrastructure, including the introduction of e-learning platforms.

Expansion of academic programmes and securing full accreditation for several existing ones.

Improved staff welfare in the face of limited government funding and many more.

The matter referenced by ASUP regarding “entitlement packages for outgoing principal officers” is a request for Council’s consideration and not an approved policy. Management remains committed to abiding by all circulars from the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and NBTE.

The Polytechnic has consistently demonstrated transparency in financial and administrative matters, maintaining full compliance with public procurement and accounting regulations. While we welcome constructive criticism and genuine engagement from stakeholders, we urge that such be based on facts rather than speculation or misinformation.

Management strongly appeal to Daily Post and other media outlets to ensure balance in their reportage by verifying facts from all parties before publication. This is the hallmark of responsible journalism and is essential for the preservation of public trust.

The Management of The Federal Polytechnic, Offa, remains focused on its mandate of producing skilled, competent, and morally upright graduates, and will not be distracted by unfounded allegations.

*Olayinka Iroye*
Head, Information and Public Relations.