Hold Abia Polytechnic Bursar Responsible For Delay In Release Of N450m Intervention — Ikpeazu

Governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu has said the delay in the release of the N450m intervention fund for the part payment of salaries of staff of the state-owned Polytechnic located in Aba is caused by the bursar, ABN TV learnt.

Recall that the NBTC had last week withdrawn the license of the tertiary institution over 30 months of unpaid salaries of staff of the institution.

The governor had after the embarrassing scenario with NBTC ordered the release of the fund as the government seeks to regain the accreditation of the Polytechnic back.

In a release on Tuesday, Barr Eze Chikamnayo, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy blamed the bursar for failure to open a single treasury account where all the income for the Polytechnic will be remitted.

The government, therefore, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the bursar to open a TSA account or be suspended from office.

READ ALSO: Abia Polytechnic Loses Accreditation Over Failure To Pay Staff Salaries For 30 Months

He said, “Government has observed with dismay the refusal and or negligence on the part of the Bursar of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba to open a Treasury Single Account for all inflow of financial payments into the Coffers of the Institution as directed by Government.

“It will be recalled that the opening of a TSA inflow account with a reputable Bank is a precondition for the release of the 450 million Naira which the Government has approved to kick-start the process of offsetting all salary arrears owed to it’s staff.

“The benefit of a Treasury Single Account is to ensure transparency and accountability in expenditure and help to minimize revenue leakages that have been a major challenge to the growth and development of the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

“Government, therefore, hereby directs the Bursar of the Abia State Polytechnic Aba to open that account within 24 Hours or risk immediate Suspension from Office as his refusal and or negligence is delaying the remittance of the 450 million and other funds meant for the Polytechnic.”