By Mercy Aikoye
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, National Board for Technical Education, and stakeholders in the polytechnic sector, has thrown its weight behind the establishment of a National Polytechnic Commission to promote academic standards in the sector.
At a public hearing on a bill to establish the commission, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Sani Gwarzo, said the commission was long overdue and would take over proper regulations of the sector.
Gwarzo commended the House for initiating the bill, saying it would bring polytechnics in Nigeria in conformity with their counterparts in other parts of the world.
Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, said the National Polytechnic Commission would serve as a regulatory body that ensures standards are upheld across polytechnics nationwide.
He said the initiative aims to enhance the quality of education, promote uniformity and excellence within the polytechnic system, and ensure graduates are well-prepared to meet industry demands.
Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, Hon. Faud Kayode Laguna, said the public hearing was to facilitate the process of passage of the Bills into Law.
Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idris Bugaje, said the National Polytechnic Commission was long overdue, as other sectors in the Ministry have specialized commissions regulating their activities.
Stakeholders, including the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Conference of Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria, also expressed support for the establishment of the commission, saying it would address challenges facing the sector and provide a regulatory framework that promotes quality education, industry-relevant skills, research, and innovation.
