Education Minister Urges NASS To Fund Existing Schools, Halt Establishing New Ones
The Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has urged the National Assembly to prioritise funding for the effective development of existing tertiary institutions rather than focusing on the establishment of new ones.
He made this call on Thursday during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education.
The public hearing, held in Abuja, focused on three critical bills:
1. A Bill to Establish the Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition in Hawul Local Government Area, Borno State (HB.1797).
- A Bill to Amend Section 3(2)(b), the Second Schedule, and Section 31 of the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap F17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (HB.1413).
- A Bill to Amend the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap F17, to Review the Functions of Polytechnics (HB.2114).
While the minister expressed support for technical education and skills development, he opposed the establishment of the proposed Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition in Borno State, citing the federal government’s policy of equitable distribution of federal institutions across states.
He noted that currently, every state—except Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory—already has one federal polytechnic.
“Given the limited resources available, the federal government’s focus should be on strengthening and fully developing existing institutions to ensure they can provide quality education and meet national needs,” Alausa stated.
He emphasised that the expansion of tertiary institutions should not come at the expense of diluting available resources.
Alausa further encouraged states and private investors to establish more private tertiary institutions through the Federal Ministry of Education’s expanded channels.
Meanwhile, the sponsor of the Insecurity and Unemployment Bill, Rep. Usman Balami (PDP–Borno), defended the proposal, arguing that the college would address pressing challenges of insecurity and rising unemployment in Borno State.
He said the institution would offer vocational and entrepreneurship training tailored to equip youths with practical skills for self-reliance and economic empowerment.
“This proposed college will help bridge the gap between academic theory and practical industry needs. It will nurture innovation, promote self-employment, and stimulate economic activities in the region,” Balami asserted.
Of the two proposed amendments to the Federal Polytechnics Act, Alausa raised no objections to most of the provisions.
However, he expressed reservations regarding a clause seeking to include representatives of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on the Governing Councils of polytechnics.
“While these organisations play vital roles, their core mandates do not align with the governance functions of polytechnic councils.
“NBTE is a regulatory body, and MAN focuses on advocacy for manufacturers. Including them on the councils could create conflicts of interest and administrative complexities,” he explained.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, Rep. Fuad Laguda (APC–Lagos), acknowledged the importance of technical education and skills acquisition in addressing Nigeria’s unemployment crisis.
“There is a general consensus on the need to expand access to skills-based education to empower our youth. This hearing is an opportunity for robust engagement with stakeholders to ensure that any legislative action taken reflects the best interests of the country,” Laguda said.
He assured stakeholders that all submissions would be carefully considered and commended the Speaker of the House and other House leaders for their support of the committee’s mandate.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigerians gain greater access to quality education in arts, sciences, technology, humanities, and vocational training, which are essential for national development,” he added.
The committee is expected to deliberate further on the recommendations and concerns raised before presenting a final report to the House of Representatives for legislative action.
Education Minister Urges NASS To Fund Existing Schools, Halt Establishing New Ones is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
