ALLEGED ₦1.1 BILLION PERSONNEL FUND DIVERSION ROCKS FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BIDA
ALLEGED ₦1.1 BILLION PERSONNEL FUND DIVERSION ROCKS FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BIDA
Fresh allegations of large-scale financial impropriety have engulfed the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, as staff members accuse senior officials of plotting to divert ₦1.1 billion in personnel funds earmarked for staff welfare to settle controversial and allegedly fraudulent supplier claims linked to a previous administration.
The allegations, first reported by SaharaReporters, have triggered outrage among academic and non-academic staff, who insist that the funds in question are statutorily meant to offset long-standing arrears owed to workers, not to quietly liquidate disputed contractual obligations.
INSIDE THE ALLEGED SCHEME
Multiple staff sources within the institution disclosed that internal financial records exposed by insiders revealed a coordinated plan involving key management officials and a staff member in the salary unit, allegedly tasked with facilitating the diversion.
According to the sources, the alleged plan initially involved diverting the entire ₦1.1 billion to controversial supplier payments. However, amid mounting resistance from staff unions and workers, management reportedly adjusted the plan—proposing to allocate only 60 percent of the funds to staff arrears, while 40 percent would allegedly be siphoned as kickbacks.
“They are contemplating using part of it for personnel, but they are asking for 40 percent of the money to be diverted, while only 60 percent would go to staff arrears,” a source revealed.
STAFF RESISTANCE AND DEMANDS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
The alleged plot has met stiff opposition from workers, who insist that the supplier claims are illegitimate, opaque, and traceable to questionable contracts executed under a former administration of the institution.
Staff members argue that personnel funds cannot legally or morally be repurposed to settle supplier claims, especially where allegations of fraud remain unresolved.
“They should not use workers’ money to pay suppliers. If there are issues with suppliers, let anti-graft agencies investigate and determine the truth,” another source stated.
Workers are now demanding that the matter be formally referred to anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC, rather than being resolved internally through what they describe as a clandestine and unethical arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF UNPAID STAFF ENTITLEMENTS
The controversy is unfolding against the backdrop of years of unpaid staff entitlements at Federal Polytechnic Bida. According to a petition submitted by staff and obtained by SaharaReporters, the institution owes workers:
Promotion arrears for 2017, 2024, and 2025
Outstanding payments to staff omitted from earlier disbursements
Unpaid 25% and 35% salary increment arrears covering a 12-month period
Staff representatives maintain that the ₦1.1 billion personnel fund is sufficient to clear all these backlogs in full, thereby easing the financial hardship many workers have endured for years.
COMPARISON WITH OTHER FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS
Sources contrasted the situation at Bida with practices in other federal institutions, citing Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, which reportedly utilized similar funds judiciously to clear salary increment arrears and outstanding entitlements owed to its workforce.
“Other schools used their funds responsibly. Here, the motive appears different — to siphon the money for personal gain,” a staff member alleged.
CALLS FOR URGENT INTERVENTION
The staff of Federal Polytechnic Bida are now calling on:
The Federal Ministry of Education
The National Assembly
Anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC
to urgently intervene, investigate the allegations, and safeguard public funds meant for workers’ welfare.
They warn that the alleged diversion of personnel funds raises grave concerns about transparency, accountability, and institutional governance, and could further erode trust between management and staff if left unaddressed.
MANAGEMENT SILENCE
As of the time of filing this report, the management of Federal Polytechnic Bida had not issued any official response to the allegations. Repeated calls and text messages sent to the Rector, Dr. Baba Aliyu, seeking clarification and comment were reportedly unanswered.
CONCLUSION
The unfolding situation at Federal Polytechnic Bida highlights a recurring challenge within Nigeria’s public institutions—the tension between staff welfare and opaque financial dealings. If substantiated, the alleged ₦1.1 billion diversion would represent not only a breach of financial ethics but a profound betrayal of workers who have waited years for their lawful entitlements.
Global Egberi TV will continue to monitor developments and bring updates as investigations and official responses emerge.
© Global Egberi TV | Investigative Reporting for Public Accountability
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