Management of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa in Kwara State, has described claims of accreditation fraud by the academic union of the institution as false, misleading, and malicious.

A statement by the spokesman of the institution, Iroye Yinka, on Friday read in part: “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, alleging that equipment were outsourced and that funds were misappropriated.

“This recycled narrative, previously peddled in a Daily Post publication of August 11, 2025, under the headline ‘Federal Poly Offa: ASUP decries N500 million accreditation fraud,’ remains false, baseless, mischievous, and deliberately intended to malign the institution and its leadership.

“For the benefit of the Polytechnic community and the general public, the Management wishes to clarify the following facts once again:

“On the Accreditation Budget. The Polytechnic was scheduled for accreditation of 81 academic programmes, not 21 as falsely reported.

“The sum of N500 million mentioned in various reports was only a proposed and duly approved budget, collated by the Directorate of Academic Planning at the instance of Management and presented to the Governing Council in line with due process and public service financial procedures.”

The statement explained that “Departmental submissions initially totalled about N900 million, but management, through prudent financial oversight, streamlined the figure to approximately N500 million without compromising the quality and standards required by the National Board for Technical Education NBTE.

“On Procurement and Expenditure: Out of the approved amount, over N300 million worth of modern equipment and materials were procured and distributed to departments and units across the institution.

“These include: Laboratory and workshop equipment: Modern office furniture, air conditioners, fridges, and televisions, studio and training tools, among many others

“Every department and programme scheduled for accreditation was fully equipped and adequately prepared in compliance with NBTE requirements.

“Therefore, the claim that equipment were outsourced or borrowed is false, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” the statement added.

The management said no equipment was borrowed, sourced externally, or improvised during the accreditation exercise, as every departmental need was fully provided for and verified by NBTE officials.

On financial transparency, the management disclosed that disbursement of funds followed strict federal financial regulations, with internal and external audit checks at every stage.

According to the statement, the accreditation budget passed through several layers of scrutiny, Departmental, Management, Governing Council, TETFund, and NBTE, making any alleged mismanagement or diversion of funds impossible.

“In addition, N30 million represented statutory fees payable directly to NBTE, while the balance covered logistics such as transportation, accommodation, feeding, and honoraria for nearly 100 NBTE appointed resource persons who participated in the accreditation exercise.

“When benchmarked with similar accreditation exercises across the country, these expenditures are standard, reasonable, and justified,” the management stated.

The management dismissed the insinuation that the Rector, Engr. Dr. Kamoru Kadiri, and the Director of Academic Planning, Engr. Dr. Waheed Balogun, requested N50 million and N20 million respectively for themselves or the Governing Council, describing it as “false, mischievous, and defamatory.”

It added that “The Polytechnic’s financial system is guided by transparency and accountability, with all transactions documented, audited, and reportable to relevant government oversight agencies.

“Management therefore categorically denies any act of financial impropriety or corruption as alleged.”

The management defended the present Federal Polytechnic Offa administration under Engr. Dr. Kamoru Kadiri, arguing that it has brought about unprecedented infrastructural and academic transformation within a short period.

On union engagement, the management said the Polytechnic Accreditation Committee already comprises Deans, Heads of Departments, and senior academic staff, most of whom are members of ASUP by designation.

“Hence, the demand for a separate ‘ASUP slot’ is unnecessary and inconsistent with NBTE accreditation procedure.

“The Management remains open to constructive dialogue with all staff unions but will not condone actions or publications that distort facts or attempt to destabilize the institution.”

The management reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and academic excellence and advised the public “to disregard these recycled falsehoods aimed at causing unnecessary tension.”

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has announced the release and delivery of Certificates of Exemption for the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II to corps-producing institutions across the country.

The scheme made the announcement in a post on its official X handle on Friday, stating that the certificates have been produced and distributed nationwide.

According to the NYSC, the six-month countdown for the return of all unclaimed Certificates of Exemption by institutions began from October 6, 2025, in line with its policy on certificate management.

“DELIVERY OF 2025 BATCH ‘B’ STREAM II CERTIFICATES OF EXEMPTION TO SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE

“The 2025 batch ‘B’ Stream II Certificate of Exemption have been produced and delivered to Corps Producing Institutions (CPIs) nationwide.

“In line with the Scheme’s Policy on return of all unclaimed Certificate of Exemption by the Schools six (6) months after delivery, the countdown is with effect from the 6th October, 2025,” the post read.

The Katsina State Bureau of Statistics office on Tuesday trained its staff on Climate Resilience, Peace and Security

The Katsina State Statistician General, Prof. Saifullahi Sani, while declaring the three-day workshop open, said training was necessary, noting the critical times when accurate and reliable data are needed to understand how climate change and conflicts affect communities.

According to him, “I am delighted to see such a diverse and dedicated group of individuals gathered here today, all united by a common goal of enhancing our understanding and skills in addressing the pressing issues of climate change and conflict.

“This training comes at a critical time when accurate and reliable data are needed to understand how climate change and conflicts affect our communities. The knowledge and skills you will gain here will not only improve our ability to collect, analyse, and use data for better planning and decision-making but also empower us to develop evidence-based solutions to the complex challenges we face.

“Climate change and conflict are two of the most pressing issues of our time, and their impact on our communities is far-reaching. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events are altering the fabric of our society, exacerbating existing tensions, and creating new challenges for peace and security.

“In Katsina State, we have seen firsthand the devastating impact of climate change and conflict on our people and our economy.

“However, we have also seen the resilience and determination of our communities in the face of adversity. It is this resilience that we must build upon, and it is this determination that we must harness to create a more sustainable and peaceful future for all.

“The strategic workshop aligns with Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda’s vision of using high-quality data for better service delivery.

“It is on record that Katsina State topped the subnational ranking in 2025 climate governance, mirroring the huge investment in data and clean energy,” he stressed.

The professor further said that the Bureau under his watch will continue to support the state with timely, reliable data for informed policy intervention.

Therefore, he appreciated the United Nations Development Programme for its continuous support and partnership with the Katsina State Government, especially the Bureau of Statistics.

“Their commitment to building local capacity and promoting peace and resilience is truly commendable. This training is a testament to the strong partnership between the Katsina State Government and UNDP, and I am confident that it will have a lasting impact on our efforts to build a more resilient and peaceful Katsina State,” Prof. Sani concluded.

The Lagos State Government has commenced a formal investigation into allegations of financial misconduct involving a staff member of the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, accused of diverting official payments into a personal bank account.

The probe followed a public outcry on X, where a user alleged that payments meant for LASAA were being made into an individual’s Opay account.

The whistleblower, identified as @Bhadmoz (TrueBlue), claimed that customers were being charged N45,000, but issued receipts reflecting only N7,100.

The user tagged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, calling for immediate action.

In a swift response, Commissioner Wahab confirmed that the individual linked to the allegations is an employee of LASAA.

He directed that the staff member report to the agency’s headquarters for immediate disciplinary action.

“My attention has been drawn to a post alleging improper transaction practices involving a staff member of an agency under our ministry. I have instructed that the officer appear at the agency’s head office tomorrow to face disciplinary proceedings,” Wahab said.

The Commissioner reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to accountability, integrity, and transparency in public service, warning that unethical behaviour would not be tolerated.

“Let this serve as a strong warning, the Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for corruption or misconduct. We commend vigilant citizens who help expose such acts because maintaining transparency is a collective duty,” he added.

LASAA regulates outdoor advertising and signage across the state to ensure compliance with government standards.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has disclosed that it realised N1.86 billion from the auction of forfeited assets in 2024, stressing that it is the highest amount recorded since its establishment.

In a statement by the spokesperson of the ICPC, Demola Bakare, on Wednesday said the amount was announced during the 2025 meeting of the asset disposal committee, following a report presented by the Proceeds of Crime Department , POCD.

Bakare stated that the report shows that 10 out of the 23 assets disposed of in 2024 were successfully auctioned in December of that year.

The spokesperson explained that seven could not be sold due to low bids that fell below the approved threshold or forced-sale value.

According to him, the remaining six assets were affected by legal, security, or encroachment challenges, adding that four unsold assets have been rolled over into the 2025 disposal programme.

“For the 2025 exercise, the Committee has presented 30 movable and immovable assets for disposal.

“These include four (4) rolled-over assets from 2024, twelve (12) immovable assets, three (3) movable assets, and eleven (11) batches of perishable assets newly enrolled for auction.

“A breakdown of the amount of money realized from the disposal revealed that perishable/scrapped assets stood at N3,969,400.00, off-cycle disposal sales (3 No. assets) were valued at N975,000,000.00, while on-cycle disposal sales (20 No. assets) is valued at N890,000,000.00,” the statement read.

The Kwara State Government says it has cleared N3.3bn outstanding pension debts inherited from the previous administration for local government workers, as part of efforts to gradually offset accumulated gratuity arrears in the state.

The Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuhu, disclosed this on Tuesday during the 2025 third quarter inter-ministerial press briefing held in Ilorin, the state capital.

She said the government met a backlog of local government gratuities amounting to over N19bn as of 2009, out of which N12bn had been paid so far.

“Gratuities for local government workers have been cleared up to 2011, while N2.5bn has been earmarked for the payment of 2012, 2013, and 2014 arrears,” Nuhu said.

The commissioner further explained that gratuity payments for state civil servants had been cleared up to 2016, though about N22bn was still being owed.

According to her, the administration has earmarked N5.6bn from the state’s Internally Generated Revenue for the third quarter of 2025 to settle part of the outstanding gratuities.

She noted that the state recorded an IGR of N15.7bn for the third quarter, all of which was paid directly into the Treasury Single Account in line with the government’s commitment to transparency and fiscal accountability.

“Our domestic debt currently stands at N57bn, which includes the N22bn gratuity component. We also have some direct deductions from the Federation Account Allocation Committee ,” she stated.

Nuhu attributed the rising gratuity liabilities to the implementation of two separate minimum wage increases since the beginning of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration, but assured that the government was working hard to clear the arrears.

“We inherited huge liabilities, but the government is doing its best to gradually pay them off.

“Our gratuity burden had risen sharply following the implementation of the N30,000 and N70,000 minimum wages and their consequential adjustments for retirees.

“We remain open and accountable. Our budget is publicly available on the state website, and anyone can assess our budget implementation. There is no vagueness or secrecy,” the commissioner added.

The National Emergency Management Agency, in collaboration with various stakeholders, has received 147 Nigerian returnees from Libya.

The returnees arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday, at about 17:15 hours, according to a post on NEMA’s X page on Wednesday.

NEMA said the returnees arrived at the Cargo Terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard an Air Libya Airlines flight with Registration Number 5A-BAE.

Over the years, NEMA, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration and other stakeholders, has facilitated the return of thousands of Nigerians stranded in other countries

“As part of the ongoing Assisted Voluntary Return initiative supported by the International Organisation for Migration in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Lagos Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, in conjunction with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, has received a total of 147 Nigerian returnees from Libya,” the agency stated.

It said the group comprised 100 adults (32 males and 68 females); 34 children (18 males and 16 females); and 13 infants (five males and eight females).

“Upon arrival, officials from the Nigeria Immigration Service conducted biometric registration and proper documentation for all the returnees to ensure accurate records and facilitate their smooth reintegration into the country.

“In line with the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safe, dignified, and humane return of its citizens, the returnees were provided with immediate humanitarian assistance, including provision of food and potable water to address immediate nutritional needs; medical care and ambulance services for health-related concerns; luggage handling and logistics support to ease their transit process; and general coordination and counselling to ensure a seamless and orderly reception,” it added.

NEMA noted that the collaborative efforts of NEMA, IOM, NCFRMI, and other key stakeholders ensured that the entire reception process was well-coordinated, efficient, and centered on the welfare and dignity of all returnees.