By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has emphasized that performance will be the key factor in determining funding for agencies in 2025. Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, made this clear after the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, presented the agency’s 2024 budget performance and 2025 proposed estimates.
Hon. Laguda stressed that government agencies must utilize their available resources efficiently before requesting additional funding. He noted that the polytechnics are poorly funded, but their performance should justify the need for more resources. Laguda encouraged the agencies to reflect on their performance and identify areas for improvement.
The Committee Chairman acknowledged the crucial role of NBTE in technical education and emphasized the need for adequate funding to enable technical education institutions to provide Nigeria with the necessary expertise and workforce to drive innovation and development. He also called for better synergies within the polytechnics and between the polytechnics and various stakeholders.
Furthermore, Hon. Laguda charged the Rectors to be more proactive in introducing modern courses, syllabus, and relevant courses tailored to their immediate environments. This, he believes, will enhance the quality of education and make the institutions more relevant to the needs of the country.
Earlier, Professor Bugaje had appealed for an increase in the agency’s budgetary allocation to recruit more personnel. He explained that the agency’s operations are being hindered by inadequate manpower, with only 330 staff members to supervise over 700 polytechnics and other institutions across the country.
The NBTE Executive Secretary also discussed the agency’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which he described as “dismally low” at N25 million for the whole year. He attributed this to the fact that charges are only paid by institutions during accreditation visits and other activities.
In conclusion, the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has made it clear that performance will be the primary consideration in allocating funds to agencies in 2025. The Committee’s emphasis on performance and efficient resource utilization is expected to promote accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
