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Reps Quiz Federal Polytechnics Damaturu, Mubi, Monguno Over Infractions

Published

1 month ago

November 24, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has queried the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State, Federal Polytechnic Monguno, Borno State and Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Yobe State over series of administrative and financial infractions.

This was as Rectors and some management staff of the three institutions appeared before the house Committee on Polytechnics and other Higher Technical Education, as part of oversight function to render accounts of their budget performances.

But the Committee found various infractions in the documents presented by the three institutions which ranged from abuse of Federal Character in employment, Extra-Budgetary spendings and recurring abandoned, uncompleted projects in one of the institutions.

During presentation by the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Dr. Abdulrahman Ishaku, the Committee discovered that projects that were to be completed in two to three years were not finished despite adequate release of funds in budget.

Specifically, the Committee was provoked by the non-completion of a staff quarters and an administrative block project by the institution for years.

Speaking, Rep. Emil Inyang who stood in for the Committee Chairman, Rep. Fuad Kayode Laguda at the meeting on Thursday, lamented that, the projects have not been completed and have been recurring in the budgets.

He said, “Physical Planning, can you show me where you rolled over the project to 2023? It’s not here. Is it in 2024? 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.

“Gentlemen, I don’t know what to say to these kinds of people. Construction of staff quarters, Item number Nine under 2022 capital projects. Have you seen it Rector? What is the state of that building? Is it completed? It is completed, that’s what is shown here, and you are saying it is still remaining fittings. Is fittings not part of completion?

“You people are just disgracing yourselves. We are just killing this country from various directions. From our various positions we are just killing this country. Let me ask a question on this staff quarters. In 2022, the amount appropriated was N57.9 million, N28.9 was utilized was released, so remaining N28.9 that’s half.

“But, by 2023, appropriation was 88 and the entire amount has been released. So, is it the same project?If it is the same project, when this appropriation was done, does it mean that, the other 28 that was not done, not utilised that time, is it kept somewhere?”

The Rector however informed the Committee that, the fund was later mopped up.

In his ruling after the submission, the Chairman stated, “What I will tell you now is that, instead of going through this your document that does not satisfy anything, please, you will.list all the abandoned, all the structures you have not completed. When it started, How much was appropriated, How much you have put in till date, the state of those projects one after the other in the entire school.

“Not just in. your regime. From inception till date.So that, we will include them in your 2025 budget. You will not do any new thing as capital. You must complete these abandoned. You have turned some of these projects to conduits of putting money into them and not completing them. Even the ones you have written as completed here. You used your own mouth to tell us here that, you have not installed fittings. That is what you said.

“So, this is why it is necessary for us to go there and see things for ourselves.Because what you are doing here, you are just wasting governments’ resources. These abandoned projects or the state of the jobs especially constructions, let’s have it in one week time. How much you have put in there, at what stage are they, how much you will need to complete”.

Similarly, the Committee criticized the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu over using Insecurity as an excuse for financial malfeasance and other infractions as well the abuse of Federal Character in employment.

Chairman of the Committee noted that, the institution has carelessly spent its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) according to the records presented to the Committee.

In his presentation, the Acting Rector, Dr Ibrahim Babale Gashua said, the institution is faced with the challenge of low IGR as a result of the insecurity being faced in the state, which according to him, has reduced students intake and other activities.

He said, “We that are residing in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, we have three different high institutions. We have to lower our tuition fee because not everybody will come from outside the state. Even those in the state, it is only the course that is not available in their places that they come for in Damaturu because of the insurgency”.

The Committee however discovered that, despite the insurgency claim that reduced the institutions IGR, there was no commensurate reduction in its spending which the Committee said cannot be justified.

Another member of the Committee while commenting on the matter said, “Everybody comes to claim insurgency. Students don’t want to come to the schools. But it doesn’t stop them from spending the whole money.IGR, you blow it, Overhead, and yet, there is insurgency. So, it’s funny. You see, if I have a house and I am supposed to have 10 people occupying it. If 10 people are not occupying it, it means that my NEPA.payment, my PHCN money will reduce, because consumption of power supply will reduce. My water consumption will reduce. My number of cleaners will reduce because I don’t have full occupation. You understand what I am saying? My security personnel will reduce in terms of numbers.

“So, these are the issues.Most of the Polytechnics in the North come here brandishing this insecurity issue as the major reason for non performance. You are not performing on students admission, but you are performing on your expenditure profile”.

Speaking, Chairman of the Committee said, “Ok, this insurgency is a big excuse. Once you mention it, you will all close our mouths.Look at your Nominal Role, a federal Institution. Open to page 47 and 48, you will see how you have obeyed the law of the land, the Federal Character. Have you seen it Acting Rector? That’s the best you can do? You think from all those Zero-Zero states, if you offer them employment they wouldn’t come?”.

The Rector however reacted saying, “Some of them don’t come. Even those that we have left. I am telling you Sir”.

But a member of the Committee, Rep. Adebayo Adepoju faulted the Rector’s claim and said, it was not justifiable.

He said, “You cannot defend it, because if you are trying to defend it, saying that you’ve done everything in your powers and Nigerians have refused to come to your school, at that point, you say you have done the most you can do.

“But, when you did not even given Nigerians the opportunity to apply. We know what goes on in Federal Character. We know. I am telling you, if you go there and you want to apply, everybody has an interest, they give you. And before you know, they give you Certificate of Compliance.

“That Certificate of Compliance, we have shredded it so many times. Give yourself the opportunity to be fair to Nigerians.People want jobs in this country. We have so many jobless people and you will agree with me, there are many that will say, I won’t mind to go to Borno to teach.Please let’s give them an opportunity”.

The Rector and Management of the Polytechnic were directed to remedy the anomalies in their employment and henceforth advertise all vacancies in national dailies in order to give all Nigerians equal opportunity.

Similarly, after a presentation by the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Monguno, Prof. Garba Mohd, the Committee directed the institution to also be diligent in its observance of Federal Character and other issues as the Committee discovered a skewed empolyment in the institution in favour of a particular section of the country.

It reminded the Rector and members of his management that, as a federal institution, it is required by law to treat all parts of the country in terms of employment and other considerations.

Related Topics:abandoned chairman school States students

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Simon Ekpa May Be Released From Detention, Biafra, Says His Deputy

Published

4 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Naijablitznews

Ngozi Ezeobika Orabueze, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Biafra Government In Exile, has said efforts are ongoing to ensure Simon Ekpa’s release from detention and the actualisation of the independent nation of Biafra.

Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister the Biafra Government In Exile, is being detained in Finland.

Orabueze who made the vow in her Christmas message to the ‘people of Biafran Nation,’ said she and others were working to achieve the actualisation of the United States of Biafra and ensure Ekpa’s release.

Recall Finland district court in Lahti had ordered that Ekpa should be remanded in prison following his arrest for suspected terrorist activities.

Ekpa was accused of using social media platforms to spread separatist propaganda linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for the secession of southeastern Nigeria.

The court alleged that the offences dated back to August 23, 2021.

Finland authorities have also investigated Ekpa in the past for alleged financial crimes, including the collection of funds through questionable means.

Orabueze in her message said, “As we celebrate this festive season, I extend my warmest Christmas wishes to every law-abiding Biafran, and especially to the Biafra Defense Forces for their unwavering defense of the territory of the United States of Biafra against the occupying Nigerian terrorist state actors.

“May this Yuletide bring joy, peace, and an abundance of love into your homes.

“We stand on the cusp of a new year, and with it, we look forward to a future filled with great promise and prosperity.

“I urge you to continue placing your trust in and supporting our government-the United States of Biafra Government-under my stewardship.

“Together, we are working tirelessly toward the recognition of our country and preparing for the triumphant return of our able Prime Minister, Ekpa Simon Njoku.

“He leads and will continue to lead us through the final stretch of our journey to realize the dream of the United States of Biafra as an independent, sovereign nation, guided by the principles of justice, fairness, and equity.”

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HoR minority caucus condemns crackdown on citizens by FG, calls for immediate release of detained persons

Published

4 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has slammed the Federal Government over crackdown on citizens criticisms and demanded for the immediate release of detained persons.

The caucus also reiterated the importance of dissenting opinions in a democracy, reminding President Bola Tinubu of his critical stance during the reign of President Goodluck Jonathan.

This was contained in a statement dated December 22, 2024 and signed by the Minority Caucus Leader, Rep Kingsley Chinda, stating that:

“The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives is very concerned about the growing controversial clampdown of citizens criticizing government.

“It is equally disturbing that agents of state are fingered in the brazen, callous, and ill-tempered harassment, and intimidation of citizens who on various medium express their respective disagreement, and apprehensions about some government policies which they believe will further exacerbate the near-zero situations of Nigerians.

“As a responsive and responsible group, we condemn in strong terms any, and every actions by the government; through security, and law enforcement agencies geared towards creating fears, panic, and make people to cow-tow to submission.

The Caucus further explained that: “We wish to reiterate that democracy can only thrive where there is virile opposition, and dissenting voices, as well as enabling alternative opinions
to express their differing views without fear or let.

“The Caucus recalls that, before 2015 when the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power, the party was very brazen, sharp-shooting, and sometimes not courteous in it’s vilification, and pillorying of the government in power.

” Indeed, President Bola Tinubu in 2011, as the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was very frontal in his criticisms of (then president) Goodluck Jonathan.

” It is surprising that a party that went roughshod in attacking, and castigating the PDP, now abhors, rejects, and hates criticism with much derision.

“As a Caucus, while we counsel that every criticism should be civil, and align with accepted regulations, we enjoin government to eschew every action of citizenry intimidation, coercion, and prosecution which may have negative effects on democracy.

” We also encourage the government to evolve results-yielding, and life-changing policies, and initiatives that will impact positively on Nigerians as an ingenious strategy to “defeat” its critics.

“While the Caucus calls for immediate release of anyone detained by state agencies for criticizing government policies, or under any guise, we also promise to resort to legislative actions against continuous abuse.

News

BREAKING: Tension in Delta as soldiers invade another community

Published

7 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Naijablitznews

Fear grips Okpare-Olomu town, located in the Olomu Kingdom of Ughelli South Local Government Area in Delta State, after Nigerian military personnel invaded the community with three Hilux vehicles.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday morning around 7:30am, has left residents on edge, with reports indicating that the soldiers took control of the community town hall by force. It was learnt that locals are concerned about the military’s presence in their community.

It was gathered that the military stormed the community in search of some of the community’s leaders, especially its President-General, Okiemute Otoka.

The sudden appearance of the military in Okpare-Olomu community sparked widespread panic, with residents fleeing in all directions, while women and children ran for safety to avoid a repeat of a similar incident in Okuama community.

According to Otoka, Okpare-Olomu community President-General, the military’s true intention was to disrupt the community’s annual conference, scheduled for Thursday, where crucial decisions on growth and development were to be made.

Otoka’s allegations suggest that the military’s presence was not just a coincidence, but a deliberate attempt to interfere with the community’s affairs.

Otoka further accused some elders and leaders of the community of unlawfully selling communal land without the approval of the annual conference as those behind the invasion of the community by the military.

Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, there was apprehension in the community as the invading military personnel were still in the community.

Source: Saharareporter