The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa has firmly rejected claims by the institution’s academic staff union that it engaged in an accreditation fraud scheme valued at about ₦500 million.
The management described the allegations as “false, misleading and malicious”, stressing that its budgeting process for accreditation exercises has been transparent and in line with governance expectations.
The dispute began when the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Offa Chapter (ASUP) issued a statement alleging that a memo from the Director of Academic Planning to the Rector proposed a ₦507.9 million sum for accrediting just 21 departments. ASUP claimed that this was unusually high compared to a previous accreditation exercise where 33 departments were covered at about ₦50 million.
In response, the Polytechnic’s management, through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olayinka Iroye, stated that the reported figure was merely a proposed budget for an upcoming accreditation of 61 programmes, not a case of “fraud”.
According to them, the initial departmental submissions totalled around ₦900 million, but following review, the budget was trimmed to about ₦500 million which remained to be backed by actual programme requirements and resources.
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The statement emphasised that over ₦300 million of the budget was earmarked for procurement of modern equipment across key departments such as Engineering Technology, Applied Sciences, Food Technology, Mass Communication, Computer Science Technology and Management Studies to meet the requirements of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The remaining funds were said to cover logistics associated with resource persons, accreditation fees, transportation, accommodation and other necessary arrangements.
Management further suggested that the allegations harm the institution’s reputation, which has been built over many years of delivering tertiary education in Kwara State and commended its commitment to producing “skilled, competent and morally upright graduates”. It emphasized the institution’s culture of financial prudence and accountability.
Meanwhile, the union has maintained that its concerns are valid and points to a need for greater involvement of staff in accreditation processes, and transparent accounting. The union argued that the large proposed sum and the methodological disconnect (21 departments vs. previous 33) raised serious questions of governance and value for money.
This exchange comes amid heightened tensions between the Polytechnic’s management and the union, including disagreements over council meetings held off-campus and other governance matters.
