By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education yesterday approved the budget performance report of all federal polytechnics.
The committee gave the clearance at a budget defence session attended by rectors and other top officials of federal polytechnics held at the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday.
The committee, however, raised concerns over compliance lapses and staffing at the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN.
Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of the committee, Fuad Laguda pledged his panel’s readiness to collaborate with the institutions to address longstanding challenges confronting the sector.
He described polytechnics as indispensable to Nigeria’s industrial and technological aspirations, noting that their contributions to middle-level manpower development remain critical to national growth.
Laguda, who represents Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State, reiterated the need for sustained investment in the polytechnic system, stressing that “the country’s quest for technological advancement cannot be achieved without well-funded and properly equipped technical institutions.”
He said, “We are always partners in progress. Everything we do is to improve and make things work better.”
He urged the Committee of Federal Rectors to ensure that the few institutions yet to submit their budget documents do so without delay to facilitate effective legislative oversight.
The committee mandated the Registrar of CPN, Adebayo Adegbiji, to submit all outstanding relevant documents within seven days.
He sought clarification on how the council sustains effective coordination and service delivery under such staffing limitations.
Reacting, Adegbiji assured the committee of the council’s commitment and capacity to fulfil its constitutional mandate.
He emphasised that CPN was empowered to regulate and accredit private organisations operating within the Information and Communication Technology, ICT, sector.
