Reps to increase funding for federal polytechnics in 2025 budget

The House of Representatives says it will increase the budgetary allocations for Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria in the 2025 budget.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Danladi Aguye (APC-Kogi) during plenary in Abuja on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.

Presenting the motion, Aguye said polytechnics were established to produce middle-level manpower and technical skills in engineering and technology.

The lawmaker added that they also provide highly skilled technical knowledge to give training and impact necessary skills for the production of technicians, technologists, and other skilled personnel.

Aguye said despite rapid expansion and changes in the world of technology, polytechnic education is yet to be accorded due recognition in Nigeria.

Aguye said most of the institutions were faced with multi-faceted challenges such as a lack of training facilities and inadequately qualified human resources.

Others, he said, include obsolete laboratories and workshops for practical activities and outdated curriculum devoid of 21st-century skills requirements, among others.

He said despite the number of polytechnics in Nigeria, technical jobs across several sectors, especially oil and gas as well as maritime sectors, are not manned by Nigerians.

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This, according to him, is a result of the skill gap among polytechnic graduates.

The lawmaker expressed worry about inadequate funding of federal polytechnics in Nigeria, as some are being converted into universities.

Aguye added that China took drastic steps to convert about 600 universities to polytechnics, saying funding of polytechnic education will help bolster Nigeria’s technological development.

He added that it would reduce heavy importation and dependency, bringing growth and development that developed countries have attained in different sectors of the global economy.

This, he said, was due to technological advancement, adding that polytechnics were the backbone of the technical education system and 1T order to meet the evolving demands of the economy.

“We must significantly increase our investment in polytechnic education,” Aguye said.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Education to increase the funding of federal polytechnics in Nigeria.

The House also mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

The Star