The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has urged the National Assembly to stop passing bills that seek to establish new tertiary institutions and instead prioritise funding for the effective operation of existing ones.
Alausa made this appeal in a memorandum submitted at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education on Thursday in Abuja.
The hearing focused on three bills concerning federal polytechnics and higher technical education.
One of the bills proposes the establishment of the Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition in Hawul Local Government Area, Borno State.
The minister, however, advised against the creation of new federal institutions given current resource constraints.
He said that limited government resources should be concentrated on strengthening existing institutions to improve quality and service delivery rather than establishing new schools.
He stated: “The Ministry reaffirms the Federal Government’s policy on citing Federal Institutions equitably across states. This policy ensures that no state hosts more than one Federal Polytechnic at a time while guaranteeing that every state has at least one such institution.
“Currently, all states except Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are engaged in this initiative. Therefore, the Ministry urges the distinguished members of the Green Chambers to prioritize resource allocation towards the successful take-off of already established institutions rather than initiating new ones.
“Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of Education has streamlined and expanded avenues for the establishment of private tertiary institutions. States and individuals are encouraged to leverage this opportunity to contribute to national educational development.
“Given prevailing funding constraints, the Ministry recommends suspending further initiation and deliberations on the Bill for an Act to establish the Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition in Hawul Local Government Area, Borno State, at this time.”
Regarding the proposed amendments to the Federal Polytechnics Act, the minister raised no objections except for the provision seeking to include representatives of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on the Governing Council of Polytechnics.
“While both organisations play significant roles, their core functions do not directly align with the responsibilities of a polytechnic’s governing council. NBTE serves as a regulatory body, while MAN advocates for the interests of manufacturers,” Alausa said.
Earlier, the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Usman Balami (PDP–Borno), defended the proposal, citing insecurity and rising unemployment in Borno as pressing reasons for establishing the institution
He described the proposed college as a strategic response to the growing number of unemployed youth and a means to equip them with the skills necessary for self-reliance and economic empowerment.
“This institution will provide diverse training programmes tailored for today’s dynamic job market. It will bridge the gap between theory and practice, producing graduates ready to meet workforce demands”, the lawmaker added.
According to him, the college will foster innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, and stimulate economic growth in the region by nurturing local talent and promoting a culture of self-employment.
In his remarks, the Committee Chairman, Rep. Fuad Laguda (APC–Lagos), noted a general consensus on the importance of skills acquisition in tackling unemployment.
He encouraged stakeholders to make robust contributions, assuring that the committee would carefully consider all submissions in its report.
“With the passage of these bills, Nigerians will have greater access to knowledge and skills in the arts, sciences, technology, humanities, and vocational and technical education,” Laguda said.
