By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education says it is prepared to support improved funding for the polytechnic education sub-sector to enhance its performance.
Chairman of the committee, Mr Fuad Laguda, gave the assurance at a two-day oversight of six federal polytechnics in the South-West Geopolitical Zone, during which the rectors decried inadequate funding.
The event held on Tuesday at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, where representatives of the polytechnics led by their Rectors met with the committee members.
The oversight was focused on the federal polytechnics’ performances and how they spent their budget allocations and funds from TETFund.
The polytechnics are: Federal Polytechnic, Ayide, Oyo State; Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun; YABATECH; Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti; Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun; and Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji, Ondo State.
Laguda said: “This oversight will give us a better view of what they are doing, how they are doing it, what has been appropriated to them in previous years, and if they were used for what they were meant.
“We have 36 polytechnics in Nigeria, and we have been going round, and the majority of them pointed out funding as a major issue.
“We have gone through their presentations, and I want to say that they are all performing above average.
“This committee is taking it upon itself to support the polytechnics sector in seeking for improvement in funding from the Federal Government and other stakeholders to drive the course of polytechnic education.
The chairman said that polytechnics were technically inclined and should be innovative.
“There has to be a re-orientation of the students, public, lecturers and entire stakeholders.
“What we need to drive in this nation is technology and innovation, and it is in the polytechnics that this exists more than in the universities,” he added.
Responding, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, appealed to the committee to look into TETFund allocation formula which, he said, put polytechnics at a disadvantage.
“The committee has scrutinised our records and told us where improvements are expected and also taken cognisance of our challenges which they promised to help us to address.
“While we are expecting to put in our best in the areas they noted, we are expecting that they will put in the necessary advocacy for us in the areas where we are expecting policy improvements and changes.
“For instance, this college is very old, we are expecting to have support to overhaul some of our infrastructure affected by ageing.
“Another area we are soliciting advocacy and the committee’s support is on policy as it concerns our graduates. We don’t want discrimination against our HND graduates.
“We are against marginalisation of the polytechnic sector. We hope the committee will help us in the area of government intervention, by legislation and budgeting,” he added.
Dr Mikahi Akinde, Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun, described the meeting as impactful and commended the committee’s determination to address polytechnics’ challenges.
“The committee did very well. I have been able to tell our problems to the committee members and they have agreed to assist,” he said.
Dr Alake John, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti described the meeting as a success.
He said the intervention of the committee was needed.
“We will like them to project polytechnics’ strength through proper public enlightenment.
“Polytechnic education is purely skill-based, and our teaming youths need skills. We have jobs without people and we have people without jobs.”