The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has threatened to seek arrest warrants against the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Engr. Dr. Sani Man Yahaya, and the institution’s Bursar, Aishat Shade Adebayo, over unresolved audit queries, alleged procurement irregularities and financial management concerns.
The committee, chaired by Rep. Bamidele Salam, directed the officials to appear before it on Monday, October 19, 2026, warning that failure to comply would attract measures to compel their attendance.
The threat followed the adoption of a technical committee report examining responses from six tertiary institutions to audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.
The lawmakers’ concerns about the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, stemmed from unresolved issues in its 2021 Audit Report, findings from the committee’s South-West oversight visit and petitions received against the institution’s management.
Salam expressed displeasure over the repeated failure of the Rector and Bursar to honour the committee’s invitations, stressing that their presence was necessary to explain the outstanding financial issues and provide relevant documents.
₦772m expenditure discrepancy raises concern
A major issue identified during the committee’s oversight exercise was the substantial difference between the polytechnic’s approved overhead budget and its actual expenditure for 2023.
According to the committee, the institution had an approved overhead allocation of ₦110.2 million but recorded actual expenditure of ₦882.5 million, leaving a discrepancy of approximately ₦772 million.
The committee also questioned a personnel expenditure variance of about ₦268.5 million. Its findings showed that the institution budgeted ₦2.862 billion for personnel costs but recorded actual expenditure of ₦2.593 billion.
The figures, lawmakers said, raised questions about the institution’s budget preparation and financial planning processes.
The committee further faulted the late submission of the institution’s audited accounts for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 financial years, noting that the delay contravened applicable financial regulations and statutory requirements.
Lawmakers uncover alleged poor project execution
The committee also raised concerns over the quality of projects executed at the institution, following an inspection that reportedly revealed poor workmanship on some projects relative to the amounts paid to contractors.
During a physical inspection of an ongoing lecture theatre project at the polytechnic’s permanent site, lawmakers observed poorly executed flooring leading to the entrance.
According to the committee, the concrete was so weak that it could reportedly be broken with hands and feet, raising questions about the quality of construction and the value delivered for public funds spent.
The institution was subsequently directed to submit the project’s Bill of Quantities, procurement documents and details of the contractor responsible for the work.
However, the committee said the requested records were not made available.
It also expressed concern over the failure of the institution’s management to produce procurement documents relating to capital expenditure and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) projects despite repeated requests.
The lawmakers described the failure to provide the records as an obstacle to effective legislative oversight and accountability.
Three audit queries remain unresolved
The committee disclosed that the polytechnic had three outstanding queries in its 2021 Audit Report.
The issues involved an unretired cash advance, the engagement of an external solicitor without approval from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and foreign trips undertaken without evidence of approval from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The lawmakers also disclosed that petitions alleging financial irregularities against the institution’s management had been received and would be examined alongside the relevant audit findings.
Another concern was the absence of evidence that the institution had complied with the mandatory remittance of one per cent of personnel emoluments to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) between 2023 and 2025.
₦20.5m pension contributions under scrutiny
The committee further questioned the reported delay in crediting approximately ₦20.5 million to the Retirement Savings Accounts of some employees through Stanbic IBTC Pension and Access Pension.
According to the findings, the delay was attributed to the institution’s failure to provide accurate employee information, including Retirement Savings Account Personal Identification Numbers (RSA PINs), to the pension fund administrators.
The committee warned that the delay could deprive affected workers of interest and investment returns that might otherwise have accrued to their retirement savings.
Salam reaffirmed the committee’s determination to enforce accountability and ensure that public institutions comply with established financial regulations.
He maintained that government institutions must account for public expenditure, provide requested records and respond to audit queries raised by the appropriate authorities.
The committee warned that repeated failure by public officials to honour invitations or provide documents required for legislative investigations would not be treated lightly.
It therefore directed the Rector, Bursar and other concerned officials to appear on Monday, October 19, 2026, warning that it would invoke the relevant powers of the House of Representatives to compel their attendance if they failed to comply.
The petitions against the institution’s management will also be examined alongside the audit findings and other available records in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and applicable laws.
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