Two senior officers of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), who were mentioned in an online publication, have denied allegations of illegal promotion.
Dr. Zakari Abdullah and Dr. Yilleng Moses Titus describe the report by an online media outlet that they were upgraded to the rank of deputy director, while still on probation, as “false, malicious and misleading.”
They accuse the media platform of failing to seek their side of the story, stating that their upgrades were not only legal but also followed all existing laws guiding the Nigerian civil service.
Reacting to the report, Abdullahi traced his career from contract lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic in 2019 to NBTE Desk Officer in 2021, Chief Programme Officer in 2022, his confirmation in March 2025, and eventual upgrade to deputy director in April 2025.
Meanwhile, Titus described the report 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.
Dr. Yilleng said he lawfully joined NBTE in December 2022, was confirmed in March 2025, and was upgraded meritoriously to Deputy Director soon after due to the earlier wrong placement. He noted that he has put in over 13 years of service in the civil service, has a Fulbright Fellowship in the US, and has more than 40 peer-reviewed publications to his credit.
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