By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education has given the Minister of Education a final opportunity to appear before it on September 17 over an ongoing investigation into the implementation of the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme.
The committee also directed the Federal Ministry of Education to submit all documents relating to the TVET initiative to its secretariat on or before August 18, warning that failure to comply with its directives could prompt further legislative action.
The resolutions were reached on Thursday during an investigative hearing at the National Assembly, where lawmakers expressed displeasure over the minister’s repeated failure to honour invitations or send a representative despite several official correspondences.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, described the minister’s absence as disappointing, revealing that the committee had written to the ministry several times since January 30, 2025, requesting information on the implementation of the TVET programme.
He said the latest invitation, dated July 30, 2026, sought detailed documents on the programme and requested the minister’s appearance before the panel, but neither the minister nor any representative attended the hearing.
According to Laguda, the committee had maintained a cordial working relationship with the ministry and did not expect such a response to its constitutional oversight responsibilities.
He reminded the ministry that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empower the National Assembly to investigate the activities of ministries, departments and agencies to ensure accountability in the use of public resources.
The committee had initially considered passing a vote of no confidence on the minister following his repeated failure to honour its invitations.
The motion was moved by Hon. Rabiu Yusuf, who accused the minister of showing what he described as “a high level of disrespect” to the National Assembly by failing to acknowledge or respond to the committee’s communications.
Yusuf argued that the ministry’s silence and refusal to provide the requested information undermined the legislature’s oversight function and warranted a strong response from the committee.
Similarly, Hon. Bayo Adepoju condemned the minister’s absence, describing it as “a direct affront to Parliament.”
He said no public official was above the legislature and insisted that Nigerians deserved to know how the TVET programme was being implemented and how public funds allocated to the initiative were being utilised.
However, some lawmakers appealed for restraint, urging the committee to give the minister one final opportunity to appear before taking any punitive measures.
Hon. Paul Kalejaiye argued that the committee had not previously made a public pronouncement against the minister and should therefore issue a final ultimatum before considering a vote of no confidence.
Adepoju also backed the proposal, maintaining that while the minister’s conduct was unacceptable, fairness required giving him one last chance to explain his absence.
Laguda supported the position, saying his previous engagements with the minister suggested he would not deliberately ignore the committee’s invitations, adding that there might have been reasons for the repeated absences.
Following deliberations, the committee resolved to issue a fresh correspondence directing the Federal Ministry of Education to submit all documents and information relating to the TVET programme from its inception to date by August 18.
It also adjourned the investigative hearing to September 17, directing the Minister of Education to personally appear before lawmakers on that date.
Announcing the committee’s resolution, Laguda said the documents were necessary to enable lawmakers properly scrutinise the implementation of the TVET programme and ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public resources allocated to technical and vocational education.
He expressed hope that the minister would honour the committee’s invitation on the adjourned date, warning that the committee expected full compliance with its directives.
