Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa Ordered To Submit Detailed Financial Records By Reps Committee

Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa Ordered To Submit Detailed Financial Records By Reps Committee

The House of Representatives on Federal Polytechnic and Higher Education has expressed displeasure over the inability of the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa to present a proper record of projects executed by the institution between 2022 and 2023.

Speaking during an oversight visit to the institution, Chairman of the Committee, Faud Lagunda gave the institution a seven-day ultimatum to submit detailed reports of the projects.

The lawmakers also demanded details of the institution’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), saying “We’re giving you seven days to give detailed and accurate reports. Give us your IGR performance for 2022 to 2023 and provide us with an audited account,” Laguda said.

Director of Procurement of the institution, Baba Yahaya presented the summary of the approved projects so far embarked on and its level of completion, including the multi-purpose lecture theatre which has been under construction since 2007, construction of the new institution’s gate and erosion control of some areas in the institution.

Fielding answers from members of the committee Yahaya disclosed that about four different contractors had worked on the project, adding that it was reawarded in 2013 with only the first phase completed.

He said the project, which is solely funded by the institution, gulps N60 million annually.

The Committee, however, advised the institution to seek assistance from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) to enable speedy completion of the lecture theatre because government attention on schools’ curriculum is gradually tilting to skills and acquisitions rather than classroom lecturing only.

Speaking on the IGR, the Bursar of the Polytechnic, Mohammed Hassan revealed that in 2023, the institution got N1.4 billion as its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)

According to Hassan, 75% of the IGR usually goes to the Federal Government since the IGR is the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account in compliance with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) initiative, saying “The IGR is not even enough to run the school,” he concluded.

Registrar of the institution, Dr. Munir Ahmed informed the committee that the student strength of the institution is 22,000 with its staff strength of 1,459, and 28 programmes is run by the institution.

When inquired by the committee why more lecturers were not employed based by the aforementioned strength of the institution. Ahmed said they were complying with the federal government directives on recruitment.

Acting Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Dr. Hauwa Mohammed however commended the House Committee for the oversight, reeled out the developmental stride so far recorded by the institution, and noted the constraints of funding amongst others.

Another inspection carried out by the committee is the institution’s medical centre with14 bed space, laboratory, x-ray department with only two doctors and eight nurses running it.