By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives and Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, have expressed divergent views on the establishment of more vocational, entrepreneurial and skills centres across the country to bridge the skills gap in the informal sector of the economy.
The House and UBEC expressed their differences at a one-day public hearing organised by the House Committee on Alternative Education on nine bills yesterday at the National Assembly, Abuja.
The Committee Chairman, Ibrahim Aliyu, in his opening remarks, said the establishment of vocational skills centers is not just a policy initiative, but a commitment to the future of our nation.
According to him, the empowerment of our youths through vocational and skills training is of paramount importance to the nation.
He argued that in a world that is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements and changing market demands, it is imperative that the nation equips its young people with the necessary skills to thrive through vocational trainings.
This did not go down well with the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Hajia Aisha Garba, who was represented by the Legal Officer of the commission, Garba Gambo.
She claimed that there are over 230 vocational and skills training centers across the country that are poorly funded by government.
She told the lawmakers that the establishment of nine new vocational and skills centers will create more problems due to funding constraints, adding that budgeting and sustaining the existing ones had remained a source of concern.
The nine Bills are: A Bill for An Act to Provide for the Establishment of the National Institute for Technical and Vocational Education, Kalgo, Kebbi State and for Related Matters and A Bill for An Act to Establish the National Vocation Training Center in all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria and for Related Matters (HB. 736);
Others include: A Bill for An Act to Establish Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition Maiduguri, Borno State and for Related Matters, A Bill for An Act to Establish the Federal Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Centre, Mallam Madori, Jigawa State and for Related Matters, A Bill for An Act to Establish Federal Technical and Vocational Training Center, Aba, Abia State and for Related Matters and A Bill for An Act to Establish Federal Vocational Training Center, Riyom, Plateau State and for Related Matters.
Three other proposed vocational training centers bills are A Bill for An Act to Establish Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Bunza, Kebbi State and for Related Matters, A Bill for An Act to Establish Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State and for Related Matters, and A Bill for An Act to Establish the National Vocational and Entrepreneurship Institute, Jos, Plateau State and for Related Matters.
