NBTE secretary, Bugaje, dismisses job racketeering claim

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has dismissed claims that the board is involved in recruitment and job racketeering, stressing that such allegations contradict civil service rules of engagement.

Reacting to a trending report on social media, Prof. Bugaje accused the platform of failing to seek his side of the story before publication, relying instead on what he described as “tissues of lies” from unnamed sponsors with vested interests.

Bugaje maintained that all recruitments under his leadership were conducted strictly in line with public service rules, with vacancies identified, waivers secured, and approvals obtained from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

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“There has never been any recruitment conducted without due process and extant laws duly followed. The Minister of Education was never bypassed in any exercise,” he said.

On allegations of promoting staff still on probation, Bugaje explained that “some officers, including those mentioned in the report, were incorrectly placed on entry at the rank of Chief Programme Officer due to the employment cadre limits set by the Head of Service at the time.

“They were, however, assured of an upgrade once opportunities arose and were accordingly elevated to Deputy Director when such openings became available.”

Speaking in the same vein, one of the upgraded officers named in the report traced his career progression from contract lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic in 2019 to NBTE Desk Officer in 2021, Chief Programme Officer in 2022, confirmation in March 2025, and eventual upgrade to Deputy Director in April 2025.

He stressed that the process followed due diligence and was based purely on merit.

Another officer mentioned in the report described it as “malicious and grossly misleading,” particularly the claim that he was dismissed from Kaduna State University (KASU) for misconduct.

He explained that his exit from KASU followed an armed robbery attack at his home in December 2019, during which his official laptop, car, and other valuables were stolen  a matter duly reported to the police.

He said the then Vice-Chancellor wrongfully terminated his appointment, a decision he contested through ASUU.

According to him, he lawfully joined NBTE in December 2022, was confirmed in March 2025, and upgraded to Deputy Director soon after due to the earlier wrong placement again, strictly on merit.

He also noted over 13 years of service in the civil service, a Fulbright Fellowship in the United States, and more than 40 peer-reviewed publications to his credit.

Both officers demanded a public retraction and apology, warning of legal action if the allegations were not withdrawn.

The NBTE boss, however, vowed that no amount of blackmail would derail his reforms to strengthen technical and vocational education in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, urging the public to disregard what he described as “reckless journalism.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE