The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), on Tuesday, declared the withdrawal of the accreditation status of the Abia State polytechnic, due to unpaid salaries and allowance for over 30 months.

In a statement issued by the NBTE’s Head, Media Department, Fatima Abubakar, in Kaduna State. The Board took the decision when they realised that the management doesn’t pay workers salary. He 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 & 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.”

The Board further warned the National Youth Service Corps that “no product of the Abia State Polytechnic should be mobilised for national service until the management of the polytechnic resolves the issue of nonpayment of salary to its staffers, while the Board promised to notify the NYSC once the accreditation status of the polytechnic is restored.”