The Benue State Executive Council has approved the conversion of the Akawe Torkula College of Advanced and Professional Studies, ATCAPS and the Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev, AOCAY, to Polytechnics.
The two approvals which were given during the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Samuel Ortom were made public in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, James Agbo.
He said the decision of the Council to convert the two institutions to Polytechnics is to enable them meet accreditation requirements set by National Board for Technical Education, NBTE.
The approval of the State Executive Council is to be sent to the State House of Assembly for amendment of the laws establishing the institutions.
The State Executive Council also approved the termination of contract for the extension of electricity from Gbajimba to Tse-Akaahena in Guma Local Government Area and the contract for the construction of the federal road which covers Tse-Ortom-Tse-Upev-Tse-Akaahena-Nasarawa border also in Guma Local Government Area of the State.
He said the decision of Council to terminate the two contracts was based on the fact that the contractor had abandoned the projects, contrary to terms of the agreement it signed with the Benue State Government three years ago.
The company is expected to refund the sum of N54.3 million on the abandoned road project and N26.5 million on the abandoned electricity project.
Council further directed the Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives to award the affected contracts to a qualified and competent company.
