By AbdulRaheem Aodu
Kaduna
Kaduna Polytechnic lecturers are on the fourth day of indefinite strike embarked upon over what they described as misappropriation of N260 million and non-payment of five months peculiar academic and hazard allowance arrears by the former rector of the institution.
Chairman of Kaduna Polytechnic branch of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Dr. Aliyu Ibrahim, who stated this in his office while reading resolution of ASUP congress meeting held last weekend in Kaduna and signed by him said, the level of impunity, corruption and stealing of public funds by the ex-rector, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim and bursar of the institution, Malam Sani Sahabi Bodinga is alarming.
The union, which stated that it will not call off the strike until the five months arrears of peculiar academic and hazard allowance are paid, also demanded that, the former Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Mohammed Bello Ibrahim and Bursar, Malam Sani Sahabi Bodinga, should be brought to book for persistently collaborating to siphon students and taxpayers money out of the coffers of Kaduna Polytechnic.
According to the congress resolution statement, “the situation in Kaduna Polytechnic is dire and the time to act is now, the level of impunity, corruption and direct stealing of public funds in Kaduna polytechnic is alarming and ASUP (a pressure group) which is usually shortchanged alongside the student whose finances were diverted for personal use instead of infrastructure and educational development of our dear institution would remain the voice of the people.
“What led to the declaration of the indefinite strike include the following: Non-payment of peculiar academic and hazard allowance arrears after the sum of N173, 979, 898.00 was paid to the management of Kadpoly in March and N86, 989,949.00 in May, 2016.
“Misappropriation of fund – N260, 969,847.00 2016 shortfall was used to pay 25% of December 2015 salary to the tune of N92, 119,439.50. Misappropriation of fund – TETFund N36m construction fund was removed from TETFund dedicated account and transferred to other charges to pay local contractors.
