• Controversies grow over N1.8bn accreditation grant
• ‘Varsity paid NUC team, others N154m for logistics’
By Gabriel Dike
The concluded accreditation exercise for the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu, Lagos, is currently generating ripples from the critical stakeholders.
The staff, United Action for Democracy (UAD) and Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) are asking how the N1, 817, 389,426.44 accreditation grant was utilised.
UAD and HURMA had petitioned Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over alleged mismanagement of the grant. In the petition, UAD Organising Secretary, Kazeem Oloyede, accused the Vice Chancellor, Prof Olumuyiwa Odusanya, “of flagrant abuse of the Procurement Act by-passing the Procurement Department and Lagos State Public Procurement Law 2021 in purchasing the required items for the accreditation.”
Ahead of the accreditation, government released N1.8 billion in August 2024 for the accreditation of 25 programmes as against 40 claimed by the university: “The VC awarded contracts for the accreditation exercise to some selected companies to supply items without going through the Procurement Unit and released millions to some principal officers and even some staff without following due process.”
HURMA petitioned the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). Its Executive Director, Buna Olaitan Isiak, said the petition was made under the Federal Government whistle-blowing policy. The group accused the VC of conniving with some staff to mismanage the grant.
However, the Campaign for Democracy and Justice (CDJ) dismissed the allegation. Its chairman, Ishola Adesina, urged government not to allow, “disgruntled elements drag LASUSTECH backwards.”
VC, Bursar, Auditor summoned
The State House of Assembly invited the VC, bursar and the Internal Auditor. They were asked to provide documents on the accreditation and general financial operations of LASUSTECH.
Daily Sun gathered that the Chief Internal Auditor wrote annual report for 2024 in December to the governing council and the VC was not happy about a portion of the report. He argued that it ought to pass through him to the council.
The auditor pointed out that the university had enough time for the accreditation grant to go through the Procurement Unit and payment made through the right process.
Staff reactions
A senior staff told Daily Sun: “The press briefing by CDJ was an attempt to salvage the situation with some intent to do some damage control. The allegation of mismanagement has not been dismissed with empirical facts and that’s where the brains behind the publication have got it wrong.
“The CDJ statement should speak to facts figuratively and let whoever can change the narratives attempt to do so and that cash advance transactions running into several millions of naira against the provisions of the procurement law is okay. That multiple contracts were awarded to the same companies without any proof of compliance with the procurement law is in order.
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Between September 23 (twice) and 30 as well as October 9, 2024, a Deputy Registrar was paid N135.800million in advance for accommodation of 60 adjunct staff (N4.8million), another accommodation and entertainment of the accreditation team N56million), honorarium and logistics for 100 NUC officials N60million) and engagement of external security personnel for the three accreditation exercise (N15million).
On September 26 and October 4 and 7, a director got an advance of N25.338million for maintenance of toilet in the College of Agriculture during the accreditation (N288,974), clearing and distilling of drainage in Isolo campus (N7.2million) and another clearing and distilling drainages in Ikorodu campus for N17.850million.
A principal officer collected N48.505million for the accreditation, twice on October 3, (N16million and N22.400million) being advance for honorarium to 40 professional bodies, accommodation for accreditation team (professional bodies) and on November 7, 2024, collected advance for the procurement of riding Mower (Toro 22HP) of N10.105million.
Between November 13 and 29, 2024, as well as December 6, another senior staff was advanced N23.857million to purchase Tractor Slasher for N5.991million, replacement of Tractor Slasher N6.650million and payment for purchase of Motorized Mower N11.216million.
The alleged amount collected by the 14 staff between September 23 and December 6, 2024, stood at N273, 501,524.
Contracts awarded to 54 firms
The main allegation was that the awards of N1.190billion contracts to 54 firms did not pass through the Procurement Unit and no bidding was done. Some of the firms got up to seven, five, four, three contracts from October 3 to December 31, 2024. Daily Sun gathered that the approval limit of the VC is N3million.
Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. ‘Lanre Kuye, one of the staff mentioned to have collected four advances told Daily Sun: “It is the norm before accreditation exercises for certain staff to collect money to handle assigned specific tasks.”
He was alleged to have collected N135, 800million, said he had retired the money: “The PRO is incharge of accommodation and other protocol issues during accreditation. It is the norm; we must accommodate the NUC accreditation team.”
On why he collected N15million for security when another staff had gotten N40million to beef up security. Kuye responded: “I am the Director of Information and Public Relations. Protocol falls under my directorate. This is what I have been doing in the last 30 years, including when we were polytechnic. You can ask PROs from other institutions, who take charge of accommodation during accreditation exercises.
“NUC asked LASUSTECH to accommodate the accreditation team. These people come from far away places. I have since retired the money I collected for the exercise. Staffs raising the alarm have issues with the vice chancellor.”
On May 20, 2025, Daily Sun called the Pro-Chancellor, Chairman of LASUSTECH, Prof. Rasheed Ojikutu, the Vice Chancellor and the Bursar, Oki Olashile, thrice for their reactions. None responded to the calls, neither did they respond to series of text and WhatsApp messages sent to their phones.