The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has rallied behind demands for the dissolution of the Board of Trustees of the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN).
The move comes in the wake of allegations of mismanagement and diversion of more than N20 billion allocated as an intervention fund for the institute.
Led by President Muniru Opeyemi, hundreds of polytechnic students took to the streets of Abuja to protest the alleged misuse of funds earmarked for the training of students and the development of CTIN.
Their impassioned plea was echoed in petitions submitted to both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
Central to their demands is an urgent investigation into the purported diversion of the intervention fund. Opeyemi underscored the need for accountability, stressing that the funds were intended for the advancement of cement technology and the empowerment of Nigerian youth in the industry.
The petition submitted to the EFCC chairman detailed the concerns of the student body, citing evidence of poor management and misuse of the substantial sum allocated to CTIN.
The students emphasized their disappointment in the leadership of the institute, condemning what they perceive as a blatant act of fraud and misappropriation of public funds.
NAPS asserted that the funds, if properly utilized, would have greatly benefited technical students across Nigeria’s polytechnic sector. Their call for action aligns with the commitment of the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to foster educational transformation and empower the nation’s youth.
