By NY Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Kaduna Polytechnic (ASUP), Engr. Abubakar Jibrin Abdullahi, has alleged that much of the over ₦20 billion generated from the sale of Kaduna Polytechnic properties has not been remitted to government accounts. The union leader stated that the management handled the sales in secrecy, leaving them unaware of the pricing details.
“We have no idea about the highest or lowest costs involved. Everything is shrouded in secrecy, and most payments were not remitted to the government. By our rough estimate, they have made over ₦20 billion,” Abdullahi said.
These revelations come amid accusations by aggrieved staff who petitioned the National Assembly (NASS) regarding the alleged illegal sale and diversion of funds generated from Kaduna Polytechnic properties. The petition, dated June 20, 2024, was addressed to the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets in Abuja.
Reacting to the allegations, ASUP expressed strong opposition to the sale of institutional properties, stating it contravened prior resolutions and government directives. “ASUP is against the sale of Kaduna Polytechnic properties, whether within or outside the institution,” Abdullahi emphasized.
The union had previously resolved at an emergency congress meeting in December 2022 that the properties should not be sold. Abdullahi recalled a 2011 directive from the former Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Amma Peppe, that institutional properties were intended for future development and should not be sold.
“The management and some staff are attempting to defraud the institution under the guise of the 2005 Monetization Policy. We rejected this move and escalated the matter to the Federal High Court in Kaduna, challenging the management, the Governing Council, and others,” Abdullahi stated.
Abdullahi further alleged that the management could not provide authorization from former President Muhammadu Buhari to justify the sale, as required by law. He described the actions as a “calculated attempt to defraud the institution.”
The ASUP chairman also highlighted his personal challenges, including suspension and termination of his employment by the management in 2024. These actions were overturned after intervention by the former Minister of Education, allowing Abdullahi to resume his position in March 2024.
The union has called for the suspension of the Rector, Dr. Suleiman Umar, and two other officials—AbdulRahman Usman Tanko and Mr. Abubakar Isa Jibrin—pending a full-scale investigation. It alleged that records are being destroyed to obstruct proper scrutiny of the matter.
In their petition to NASS, the aggrieved staff urged the lawmakers to intervene and ensure justice, citing concerns over the institution’s legacy, which dates back to its founding by the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello. The staff emphasized that the properties were meant for the institution’s expansion and future development.
The controversy has fueled tensions between staff and the management, with stakeholders calling for transparency and accountability in addressing the issue.
