The Management of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, in Kwara State, has dismissed allegations by the institution’s Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) accusing it of mismanaging ₦500 million during a recent accreditation exercise.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Polytechnic’s spokesman, Iroye Yinka, the management described the allegations as false, misleading, and malicious, saying they were recycled claims aimed at discrediting the institution’s leadership.
Yinka said the latest reports which appeared in an August 11, 2025 Daily Post publication titled “Federal Poly Offa: ASUP decries ₦500 million accreditation fraud” were “a baseless attempt to malign the institution and its leadership.”
“The attention of the Management of The Federal Polytechnic, Offa, has been drawn to another round of false, misleading, and malicious claims regarding the recently concluded NBTE Accreditation Exercise,” the statement read. “The claim that equipment were outsourced or that funds were misappropriated is false, mischievous, and intended to mislead the public.”
The management clarified that the Polytechnic was scheduled for the accreditation of 81 academic programmes, not 21 as claimed in media reports. It explained that the ₦500 million mentioned was not a lump-sum payment but a proposed and duly approved budget collated by the Directorate of Academic Planning and presented to the Governing Council following due process and public financial regulations.
Yinka stated that departmental submissions initially totalled about ₦900 million, but the management reduced the figure to about ₦500 million through what he described as “prudent financial oversight” without compromising the standards set by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
He said out of the approved amount, over ₦300 million worth of modern laboratory and workshop equipment, office furniture, air conditioners, fridges, studio tools, and other materials were procured and distributed to departments.
“Every programme scheduled for accreditation was fully equipped in line with NBTE requirements. Therefore, the claim that equipment were outsourced or borrowed is false and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” he said.
On the issue of financial transparency, the Polytechnic maintained that all funds were disbursed according to federal financial regulations, with internal and external audits carried out at every stage.
The statement added that the accreditation budget went through several layers of scrutiny — from departmental review, management approval, Governing Council endorsement, to NBTE verification — making any misappropriation of funds impossible.
It also explained that ₦30 million out of the total amount represented statutory fees payable directly to NBTE, while the rest covered logistics such as transportation, accommodation, feeding, and honoraria for nearly 100 NBTE-appointed resource persons.
“When benchmarked with similar accreditation exercises in other polytechnics across the country, these expenditures are standard, reasonable, and justified,” the management said.
The institution also rejected allegations that the Rector, Engr. Dr. Kamoru Kadiri, and the Director of Academic Planning, Engr. Dr. Waheed Balogun, personally requested ₦50 million and ₦20 million respectively.
“This allegation is false, mischievous, and defamatory,” the statement said. “The Polytechnic’s financial system is guided by transparency and accountability, with all transactions documented, audited, and reportable to oversight agencies.”
The management praised the current administration led by Dr. Kamoru Kadiri for driving “unprecedented infrastructural and academic transformation” within a short period. It urged stakeholders to disregard rumours designed to tarnish the image of the Rector and the Polytechnic.
On ASUP’s call for a separate representation in the accreditation process, the management said the existing Polytechnic Accreditation Committee already included Deans, Heads of Departments, and senior academic staff, many of whom are ASUP members.
“Hence, the demand for a separate ‘ASUP slot’ is unnecessary and inconsistent with NBTE accreditation procedure,” the statement read.
The management reaffirmed its openness to constructive dialogue with all staff unions but warned that it would not tolerate actions or publications that distort facts or destabilize the institution.
“The Management remains committed to transparency, accountability, and academic excellence,” it added. “We therefore urge the public to disregard these recycled falsehoods aimed at causing unnecessary tension.”
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) conducts accreditation exercises for all polytechnics in Nigeria to ensure that academic programmes meet national standards. During these exercises, departments are assessed based on facilities, staffing, curriculum, and equipment.
Allegations of “equipment borrowing” or “outsourcing” during such exercises are not uncommon in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, often sparking tension between management and staff unions.
The Federal Polytechnic, Offa, one of the leading polytechnics in the North-Central region, has in recent years undergone several reforms and expansions, including the upgrading of workshops and laboratories to meet NBTE standards.
With the latest clarification, the institution’s management insists it has nothing to hide and that all expenditures related to the 2025 accreditation exercise were legitimate, properly documented, and in line with public service rules.
