Abia Poly Loses Accreditation Over Non-payment Of Salaries and Allowances of Staff

Several Warnings Ignored by the Institution and State Government

According to the statement, the accreditation of Abia State Polytechnic was withdrawn after several warnings were issued to the management of the institution and the Abia State Government.

NBTE disclosed that the management of the polytechnic and the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, failed to heed repeated calls to address the issue of accumulated salary arrears.

Why NBTE Withdrew the Accreditation

The Board explained that the decision was taken in order to:

safeguard the quality assurance mechanism of NBTE, and
protect students from being exposed to an unhealthy academic environment.

NBTE further warned that prolonged non-payment of salaries could leave students at the mercy of demoralised staff, who may resort to “under-the-table” practices in order to survive.

NBTE Statement on Salary Payment and Quality Assurance

In the statement issued by the Board, NBTE said:

“Regular payment of salary is one of the key components of the Board’s normative instruments for quality assurance in the polytechnics and Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions under her purview.

The Board had drawn the attention of the polytechnic to the dangers of non-payment of salaries, including the suspension of quality assurance visits.

The Governing Council and management of the polytechnic made several failed promises to settle the backlog of salary arrears and ensure regular payment of staff salaries.

The Board went the extra mile of writing His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, informing him of the dire situation of the polytechnic but all to no avail.”

Implications of the Withdrawal

With the withdrawal of accreditation by NBTE, Abia State Polytechnic may no longer enjoy official recognition for affected programmes until the Board is satisfied that the issues raised—especially salary arrears—have been properly addressed.

This development may also affect future admissions, programme validation, and academic activities in the institution.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why did NBTE withdraw the accreditation of Abia State Polytechnic?

NBTE withdrew the accreditation due to persistent non-payment of staff salaries and the failure of the institution and the state government to resolve the problem after several warnings.

When was the accreditation withdrawal announced?

The withdrawal was announced on Tuesday, July 19, in a statement issued by NBTE.

Who announced the decision on behalf of NBTE?

The announcement was made through a statement released by the Head of Media Department of NBTE, Mrs. Fatima Abubakar.

Did NBTE notify the Abia State Government before taking the action?

Yes. NBTE confirmed that it formally wrote to the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, to inform him about the worsening situation in the polytechnic before the accreditation was withdrawn.

What could be the effect of this decision on students of Abia State Polytechnic?

The withdrawal of accreditation may affect programme recognition, admissions and the overall credibility of the affected courses, until the institution resolves the issues raised by NBTE and its accreditation status is restored.