The Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and Other Higher Technical Education has uncovered a startling situation at the Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, where the number of staff exceeds the student population.
Established in 2021, the institution has 142 students but employs 154 academic and non-academic staff, raising questions about its operational efficiency and funding.
During an oversight visit, Committee Chairman Fouad Laguda (APC, Lagos) expressed deep concern over the Polytechnic’s spending.
“It is troubling to see a federal institution, barely three years old, expending approximately N600 million on personnel and overhead costs, and an additional N38 million on local travel for just 142 students,” Laguda remarked.
In his defense, Professor Edward N. Okey, Rector of the Polytechnic, detailed the challenges faced by the institution. He explained that the N2 billion take-off grant was used to refurbish the derelict Ugep Community Secondary School, which now serves as the Polytechnic’s temporary campus.
“Our institution was founded in 2021, and we initially planned to commence operations at the Institute of Technology and Management (ITM). However, circumstances forced us to find an alternative site, which delayed our launch,” Okey explained. “We started with just 16 students. Today, we have 142, including those absorbed from ITM, which we’ve taken over as our permanent location.”
Okey highlighted the stigma surrounding Ugep as another obstacle to growth. “Attracting students and staff has been challenging. Even my first Council members hesitated to visit Ugep due to historical fears rooted in ancient traditions,” he said.
Despite this, he expressed optimism, pointing to ongoing projects at the Polytechnic’s permanent site and incremental enrollment growth.
The committee was unimpressed with the institution’s explanations, labeling the presentation as subpar. Laguda emphasized that the Polytechnic must justify its funding and operational structure.
Other institutions from the South-South region, including Federal Polytechnic Orogun and Federal Polytechnic Oil & Gas Bonny, were also summoned during the oversight. However, the situation at Ugep stood out due to its stark imbalance and high expenditure for such a small student body.
The House Committee pledged to address the inefficiencies plaguing Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, to ensure accountability in Nigeria’s education sector.
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