Reps committee meets with rectors to discuss increased funding for polytechnics

The house of representatives says it looks to work on improving budgetary funding for the polytechnic education.

Fuad Laguda, the chairman of the reps committee on federal polytechnics and higher technical education, spoke at a two-day oversight of six federal polytechnics in the southwest geopolitical zone.

The oversight meeting was held on Tuesday at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos.

It was focused on the performances of federal polytechnics and how they spend their budgetary allocations/TETFund disbursements.

The polytechnics represented are the Federal Polytechnic Ayide in Oyo state, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro in Ogun, YABATECH, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti, Federal Polytechnic Ede in Osun, and Federal Polytechnic Ile Oluji in Ondo state.

Polytechnic rectors decried inadequate funding, citing this as a major roadblock for optimal performance in the sector.

Laguda said his committee will support the polytechnics sector in seeking improved funding from the federal government.

“We have 36 polytechnics in Nigeria, and we have been going around, and the majority of them pointed out funding as a major issue,” he said.

“We have gone through their presentations. I want to say that they are all performing above average.

“This committee is taking it upon itself to support the polytechnic sector in seeking for improvement in funding from the federal government and other stakeholders to drive the course of polytechnic education.

Laguda 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,” the chairman added.

“What we need to drive in this nation is technology and innovation. It is in the polytechnics that this exists more than in the universities.”