The National Association of Polytechnics Students (NAPS), has called for investigation alleged mismanagement of over N20 billion intervention fund for the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) in the last 10 years.
President of NAPS, Ridwan Munirudeen, made the call in a press conference on Saturday in Kaduna.
He said over N20 billion was contributed as levies on imported cement to CTIN for technical training purposes for over 10 years when the country was still importing cement.
Munirudeen said as technological inclined students, “we strongly believe if the fund is utilise, we should be the beneficiaries as technical students from Polytechnics in Nigeria.”
He called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to as a matter of urgency commence probe of CTIN for alleged mismanagement of the funds.
The statement noted that the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “have undoubted demonstrated commitment to transform education, improve wellbeing of Nigeria students, staff and infrastructure in education sector so as to make life easier for all citizens.”
Munirudeen said the NAPS, in consonance with the apex students union body – the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), being the voice of Nigerian youths, are raising voices in protest against alleged mismanagement of funds at the CTIN.
He said, “We are expressing our deep concern and outrage regarding the mismanagement and lack of accountability within the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN)
“Information at our disposal reveal that the fund had been squandered, leaving a trail of broken promises and shattered dreams.
“We demand accountability, and we demand justice. We demand an immediate, detailed, and public explanation about the status, management, and use of the over N20b contributed as levies on imported cement to CTIN for technical training purposes over 10 years ago.
NAPS demanded for independent forensic audit of CTIN account from inception to date.”
The students union body threatened to embark on a protest to the headquarters of the EFCC, if the commission fails to commence investigations within seven days.
