The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has uncovered startling details about Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State.
Despite having only 142 students, the institution employs 154 staff members and has spent over N600 million on personnel and overhead costs, alongside N38 million on local travel expenses.
Oversight Findings and Challenges
The revelation came during an oversight meeting led by the committee. The Rector of the polytechnic, Professor Edward N. Okey, explained that the institution has faced significant challenges since its establishment in 2021, including difficulties finding a temporary site and overcoming Ugep’s historical stigma.
Professor Okey disclosed that the polytechnic utilised its N2 billion take-off grant to renovate the dilapidated Ugep Community Secondary School as a temporary campus and initiate construction projects at its permanent site. The school has struggled to attract students, admitting only 79 since its inception. It now houses 142 students after absorbing students from the state-run Institute of Technology and Management (ITM).
Committee Members Express Concern
Committee members expressed frustration over the institution’s spending and inability to justify the high expenditure against the low student enrollment. One member criticised the polytechnic’s operating model, likening its student population to that of a small elementary school.
Committee’s Response
Chairman Fouad Laguda lamented the subpar presentations by institutions from the South-South region, stating that most were ill-prepared for the oversight meeting. He urged the polytechnic to return with detailed budget explanations and a clearer strategy for improving efficiency and student enrollment.
The committee’s findings raise questions about resource allocation and the sustainability of federal education investments in remote areas. A follow-up meeting is expected within a week to address these concerns comprehensively.
