The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), as allegations of document forgery, payroll irregularities, and administrative misconduct threaten to derail the institution’s credibility. The situation escalated into chaos earlier last week when journalists were forcefully asked out of the Commission’s premises during an attempt to seek clarification on the growing scandal.
Sources within TEC and the Ministry of Finance reveal that the current Executive Secretary (ES), formerly the Principal of Milton Margai Technical University, faced an unusual hurdle upon assuming office at TEC. The Accountant General’s Department reportedly refused to place him on the government’s payroll, citing TEC’s failure to adopt the University of Sierra Leone (USL) conditions of service, which serve as the benchmark for institutions under the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education.
As a result, the ES allegedly went unpaid for four consecutive months. The Commission managed to pay him for only one month from its own internal funds during that period. In a controversial move aimed at resolving the deadlock, TEC’s Human Resources framework was abruptly altered to mirror that of USL. Allegation revealed that, this adjustment was made under the leadership of the Director of Administration and Finance, Mr. Newland, was allegedly done without due process or board approval.
But what has plunged the TEC into deeper controversy are fresh allegations that forged documents were submitted to the Accountant General’s Department to facilitate the ES’s placement on the Ministry of Finance payroll. According to reports, the Director of Finance allegedly flagged the irregularities, triggering an internal storm.
The situation worsened when the Chairman of the Commission reportedly confronted the Finance Director, sending him out of his office and accusing him of misconduct. Shockingly, the Chairman also alleged that the Finance Director himself is under investigation over discrepancies in his academic and professional qualifications. “The documents he submitted are not correct,” the Chairman was quoted as saying before abruptly ordering journalists out of his office.
Effort has been made to obtain comments from the Accountant General’s Department were not successful. This medium also tried to talk to one of the officers (Abu Bakarr), flatly refused to speak, saying: “I am not going to talk to a journalist.”
The lack of transparency, coupled with the alleged forging of official documents and the media blackout, raises critical questions about governance, accountability, and the integrity of leadership at TEC.
As investigations continue, Vantage Newspaper will remain on the story — asking the critical questions, demanding accountability, and pushing for the truth.
