News

Crisis Hits NBTE As director, Executive Secretary Bicker Over Suspension

Published

1 year ago

October 13, 2024

Editor

The National Board for Technical Education is currently enmeshed in crisis following the illegal suspension of a former Director, Human Resources, Lawal Hafiz, by the Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje.

Consequently, the former director of the NBTE, saddled with overseeing technical education, has petitioned the head of the organisation.

In the petition of the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, Bugaje was accused of illegally suspending a director of the board in an alleged case of witch-hunt.

Hafiz, also claimed that he was suspended following the allegation of being the arrowhead of whistleblowers who petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged illegal withdrawal of N200 million from the board’s Single Treasury Account (TSA) to a commercial bank.

According to Hafiz in the petition, the Executive Secretary feigned ignorance of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission and, instead, descended on the perceived whistleblowers by redeploying them and making them redundant.

He also accused the NBTE boss of deployment of board’s fully paid staff as manager of the executive secretary’s wife’s restaurant, and payment of salary to already employed federal government employees.

He then appealed to the minister to call the Executive Secretary, to order and restore the management committee comprising all directors of the board and disband the NBTE EXCO where only a few directors are members, an act not recognised by the NBTE laws.

Hafiz also added that even the query given to him on using public transport to conduct official engagements was answered in line with public service rules, yet he was suspended.

The petition read, “First, I wish to crave your indulgence to give a brief on the development that led to the unwarranted actions on my person by the Executive Secretary. Some times in May, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) opened an investigation into an allegation of withdrawal of over two hundred million naira from the Board’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to a Commercial Bank account of the NBTE Consult Ltd using some staff of the Finance Department as conduits. (See list of some of the officers interrogated in appendix Ia-Ib).

“Other allegations under investigation include the sale of luxury cars and buses under a swap arrangement without records, receiving kickback from contractors and operating an illegal kickback fund named known in Islam as Baytil Maal (See screenshot of WhatsApp chat with the ES in appendix II.”

“Furthermore, as part of the vengeance, he created what he called NBTE EXCO in place of the Management Committee made up of a handful of Directors to form the NBTE EXCO; effectively shutting me along with other Directors believed to be whistleblowers or not in his good books out of management committee. With this segregation, the NBTE EXCO meets monthly to make decisions while other Directors, including me, will only meet when necessary.

“This is quite strange as this scenario doesn’t exist in other regulatory agencies; National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) not to talk of other MDAs in public service. Management Committee everywhere is made up of all Directors of the establishment. The main target here is me. (see ES memo on formation NBTE EXCO as appendix III).”

NBTE boss dispels corruption allegations, vows to sanitise agency.

However, when contactedon the matter, the executive secretary, denied the allegations, while noting that the director was suspended, following his unsatisfactory reply to the query issued to him by the management.

The NBTE boss also denied allegations of corruption and embezzlement, attributing the claims to a disgruntled employee of the agency.

In an interview with The PUNCH , Bugaje addressed the allegations, stating that the NBTE has introduced digital accreditation to reduce corruption and increase transparency.

“We discovered that physical accreditation was prone to corruption, with institutions trying to cut corners. Digital accreditation ensures a more transparent process,” he explained.

“Regarding the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission investigation, Bugaje clarified that some staff members were invited for questioning, but it is not under investigation.

“The ICPC is a partner in our quality assurance exercise. We have a Memorandum of Understanding to combat illegal institutions defrauding students and parents,” he stated.

Bugaje attributed the allegations to a former Director of Human Resources, Lawal Hafiz, who allegedly sought to take over as acting executive secretary, adding that “Lawal Hafiz was trying to create problems between me and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics. He also attempted to short-change the board,” he alleged.

The NBTE boss emphasised his commitment to transparency and accountability, citing his 43 years of public service.

“I have always stood for transparency. We encourage whistleblowing and support the ICPC’s investigations,” he said.

Bugaje also addressed the suspension of four deputy directors for corruption, including financial misconduct and sexual harassment.

“We must sanitise the NBTE and ensure our accreditation process is transparent and sincere. We recalled the suspended directors after six months, posting them to departments outside accreditation,” he explained.

He noted that the NBTE has introduced digital accreditation to reduce costs, increase transparency, and promote blended learning.

“We are determined to keep marching on the path of technology, despite resistance from some quarters,” Bugaje concluded.

News

Food Security: 14,000 Smallholder Farmers To Benefit From N4bn Smart Agriculture Training In Bauchi

Published

59 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

The Heineken Africa Foundation, through Nigerian Breweries Plc is investing N4 billion to train 14,000 smallholder farmers on smart agriculture across seven Local Government Areas of Bauchi state for three years.

Mr Chukwuemeka Aniukwu, Head of Public, External and Government Affairs, Nigerian Breweries Plc, disclosed this in Bauchi on Thursday during the official Launch of the ‘empowerment of Smallholder farmers to thrive and build climate resilience through regenerative agriculture’.

Aniukwu, who explained that the foundation is in collaboration with the Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS), added that the investment builds on the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to improving access to healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene across Africa.

“Our decision to invest in Bauchi is both deliberate and strategic. Bauchi is home to resilient, resourceful, and industrious smallholder farmers whose contributions are essential to Nigeria’s food security.

“The strength of your farming communities, combined with the natural potential of this land, gives us confidence that meaningful and lasting impact can take root here. We are here because we believe in the people of Bauchi.

“This project is designed to strengthen the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, particularly women and young people, by enhancing their capacity to generate sustainable income.

“It will deliver training, access to quality inputs, stronger market linkages, and opportunities across the agricultural value chain,” he said.

Also, Dr Isaiah Gabriel, Executive Director, Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS), explained that the farmers would receive hands-on training through Farmer Field Schools and demonstration plots in.

According to him, out of the 14,000 smallholder farmers, 60 per cent were women and 40 per cent of youth.

The farmers, he said, would also be trained on regenerative and climate-smart agriculture, soil and water conservation, pest and disease management, crop diversification and post-harvest handling, among others.

“The project supports the restoration and protection of natural resources by promoting regenerative farming that rebuilds soil fertility, efficient water management and irrigation practices, and adoption of drought-tolerant crop varieties.

“We are here to make smallholder farmers big players and our target is to increase incomes by at least 30 per cent, but our dream is bigger.

“This programme spans seven Local government areas of Katagum, Shira, Jama’are, Giade, Itas-Gadau, Zaki, and Gamawa. Women and youth are not an afterthought, they are at the heart of this intervention because the future of agriculture depends on their strength, creativity, and leadership,” he said.

The Executive Director commended the Bauchi state government for its partnership, support and provision of an enabling environment and promised that the programme would be effectively implemented.

In his address, Mr Iliyasu Gital, Bauchi state’s Commissioner for Agriculture commended the foundation for bringing the programme to the state and expressed the state government’s commitment to support the training in every capacity.

Some of the beneficiaries commended the gesture, adding it would transform agriculture and encourage productivity towards achieving food security in the country.

Maimunatu Sani, a farmer, who had benefited from the programme in Kano state, said that she learnt how to recycle farm residues and transform it into an effective organic fertilizer, calling smallholder farmers in the state to key into the programme.

She said she acquired practical skills to improve her farming activities and increase output.

Another farmer from Kano, Mama Mairam, said the introduction of new techniques assisted farmers to significantly reduce wastage and increase yields per hectare.

News

Edo Govt Bars Ijaw Communities From Laying Claim To Disputed Forest Reserve

Published

1 hour ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

The deputy governor of Edo state, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, says the disputed forest reserve between Abere and Ajakuruma Ijaw communities of the Ovia South West Local Government Area belongs to the state government.

The deputy governor who is the chairman of the state boundary committee subsequently barred members of the two communities from laying claims to the forest reserve.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the deputy governor declared the disputed reserve as “Bona Vacantia” on Wednesday when he met with both communities.

He directed both communities to maintain peace and adhere to the resolution of the state boundary committee on the disputed forest reserve.

Idahosa explained that it was criminal for either of the communities to go into the forest reserve to take ownership of the landmass as the area in dispute was not “Bona vacantia.”

He noted that documentary evidence available suggests that the area in question belongs to the government of Edo state.

“You cannot fight over what doesn’t belong to you. Documentary evidence showed that the landmass in question belonged to the state, a process verified through the use of digital Coordinates.

“Whatever we have done here today is in line with the law. Go back to your communities and ensure that there is peace. Anybody that wants to foment trouble should be ready to face the wrath of the law,” he emphasised.

The deputy governor commended the Ovia South West council chairman, Mr Nosakhare Edobor, for averting crisis that would have led to loss of lives.

Edobor, who said the issue had been on for about seven months now, appealed to communities in the local government to always embrace dialogue in resolving contentious matters.

News

Edo Journalist Hospitalised After Being Attacked By Political Thug

Published

4 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

Juliet Asein, a female journalist with the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), has been hospitalised after she was allegedly assaulted by the suspended Coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), Kelly Okungbowa, widely known as Ebo Stone.

The incident occurred on Wednesday inside the Edo State Government House, where Juliet who covers the Office of the First Lady was said to have been shoved and slammed against a wall during a confrontation with Ebo Stone.

The violence reportedly stemmed from a disruption at an empowerment programme for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), organised by the First Lady’s Office and held within the Government House.
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Trouble reportedly broke out when some PWDs stormed the venue’s entrance, protesting alleged exclusion from the programme.
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‎In the commotion, an EBS cameraman attempting to film the scene was allegedly harassed by Okungbowa, prompting Juliet to intervene, which reportedly led to her being physically attacked.

READ ALSO:NUJ Reacts As Sacked Edo Taskforce Boss Assaults EBS Staff
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‎Okungbowa, a chieftain of the ruling APC and the former PSRT coordinator, previously faced public backlash after the taskforce he headed was linked to a tragic incident in which a two-year-old girl died in a crash involving team members.
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‎The public outcry that followed led Governor Monday Okpebholo to suspend him from the role.

Confirming Juliet’s state of health, a family member Andrew Enabulele, said she began experiencing severe pains later that night and could not sleep.
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According to him, ‎she was taken to a private clinic on Thursday before being referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for further medical care.

READ ALSO:Iran Has Executed At Least 841 People This Year — UN
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‎He said: “We took her to a private clinic where doctors said she may have suffered muscle spasms.

“She has now been referred to UBTH, where she is receiving treatment. She is a mother of twin toddlers, so we are praying for her quick recovery,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Ebo Stone had visited the NUJ Press Centre, Benin on Thursday, where he reportedly apologized to leadership of the Council after the Union had condemned the act, threatening a press conference to that effect.

After meeting the Chairman and the Secretary of the council for the apology, the NUJ Chairman urged members to sheath the sword.