Members of the House of Representatives have underscored the urgent need to eradicate the age-long dichotomy between Degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) status and employment across the country.
Chairman, House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, Hon. Fuad Laguda gave the assurance during the budget performance session with the Rectors of Federal Polytechnic Shendam and Federal Polytechnic Wannune.
He disclosed that there are a number of proposed Bills gazetted to address the various challenges facing Polytechnics in the country which are all aimed to strengthen the institutions, with a view to provide the needed professional technical expertise towards the country’s quest for development.
Hon. Laguda informed the Rectors that, the essence of the meeting was to assess their budget performance and know the challenges facing the institutions and find the way to support them to run smoothly and serve their intended purposes.
He said: “As we approach the 2025 budget year that’s coming next, we need to actually see to the performance of current year, previous years, to ascertain and to know to what level we will be doing future work, and to also understand what your individual challenges are in your institution and what you will require to move on.”
In his presentation, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Nyam-Shendam, Dr. Mikaila Zakari Yau, said, they are still struggling to stay afloat since the creation of the Polytechnic in 2021 which he said kicked off without a temporary site but started from a primary school building in the community.
He said: “We are just giving a bush like this, donated by the state government as a start-up.”
Dr. Ya’u disclosed that the sum of N2 billion was given to them by TetFund as take-off grant part of which was used to buy a water tanker because there is no water in the school, renovated the existing primary school and carryout other projects for the takeoff of the institution.
He, however, informed that, there was no take-off grant from the Federal Ministry of Education but there has been steady budget with a fair release which enabled the institution to execute capital projects and structures needed for learning.
The Committee, however, frowned at the fact that the school has only 27 students for three years despite having with an academic and non-academic strength of 245.
A member of the Committee said, “You only mention that the take-off grant was two billion. What about the other grant? How much was given to you for other grants? He said, we need to know how that money was expended. You didn’t tell us.
“So we need to know how that money was spent. Who and who get what? What is the outcome of the grant? Can we see who get a grant? Can we inspect them? Because 27 students for three years to a school. You said you’ve done only one admission. For two years, what were you doing?”.
Another member of the Committee said, “And I think this is a very, very peculiar case and situation in terms of the number of students you have. It is alarming.
“It is really, really alarming. And for all reasons stated by you, because if I want to understand what you’re saying as far as where your school is located, you’ve said before us here that it is not a conducive environment. From what you have said”.
In his presentation, the Rector, Fedpoly Wannune, Benue State, Dr Tyover Ashinya apologised for what happened about the plan by the Committee to visit the school and the statement credited to him which the found in uncomplimentary.
He said, the school also started in 2021 and was the last six Polytechnics that were established during the second tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said: “So when the school came on board, we were given, as usual, there was a take-off grant. And if you go there now, we judiciously use the take-off ground for administrative block, academic block, classrooms, offices.
“We have whatever for a better start of an institution. And if you equally go there, we’ve been able to have students, because when we came on board, we decided that this school, within the vicinity, is going to be a wonderful catchment position for our students. So we have students of almost 1,000, at least”.
While speaking, Hon. Laguda directed representatives of the Institutions to represent their position papers within five working days.
He said: “If you make a political decision as well, if I don’t appreciate the number of students, what I know is that the report is not accurate. You agree that the report is not accurate? Okay…let’s save ourselves the continuous agony and let’s also save ourselves face.
“I think at this point, if you can own up and say that you know your report is inaccurate, I would be saying to all my members and say that we grant you the grace to resubmit another report to us.
“That would be more comprehensive and I’ll be able to speak to all these questions we’ve been asking you all day. We do need pictures”.
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