News
Poly Rectors’ No-Show Forces Budget Defence Postponement
…as Reps warn that poor attendance undermines accountability and weakens oversight of public funds*
By Gloria Ikibah
Tempers flared at the National Assembly on Friday as members of the House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and Other Higher Technical Education voiced frustration over what they described as a dismal showing by heads of federal polytechnics at the 2026 budget defence session.
The committee, chaired by Rep. Fuad Laguda, was left visibly unimpressed after only four of the 14 invited institutions turned up for the crucial exercise. Ten rectors failed to appear, a development the panel regarded as both disappointing and unacceptable.
Out of the 36 federal polytechnics nationwide, just 22 had submitted their budget reports ahead of the session. Lawmakers viewed this as a troubling sign of lax compliance with legislative oversight obligations.
Even among the institutions that had met the submission requirement, attendance remained sparse. Representation came from the rectors of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and Federal Polytechnic Idah in Kogi State, alongside bursars from Federal Polytechnic Bauchi and Federal Polytechnic Bali in Taraba State.
Committee members were informed that some of the absent rectors attributed their non-attendance to the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory elections and the overnight restriction on vehicular movement between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
However, the panel maintained that such explanations fell short of justifying their absence, stressing that the budget defence process remains a central pillar of accountability and public sector governance.
“We invited 14 polytechnics here today; only four showed up. While some have cited the election taking place tomorrow in the FCT and the restriction on movement of vehicles from 8 p.m. till 6 a.m. as reasons, we believe institutions of this magnitude ought to plan better. These are national assignments, and attendance should not be treated lightly,” he stated.
Rep. Laguda stressed that the budget defence process is not a mere formality but a vital part of the National Assembly’s constitutional duty to safeguard transparency, enforce accountability and ensure that public funds are properly managed. He cautioned that ignoring such invitations sends the wrong signal and weakens the culture of responsibility expected within public institutions.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the session, the chairman disclosed that the committee had been left with little choice but to postpone the exercise to a later date in light of the poor turnout.
“Due to logistics and administrative lapses, we will not be able to proceed with the four federal polytechnics present today — Nasarawa, Idah, Bauchi and Bali. We are adjourning and postponing their appearance until a new date when we expect a fuller house. We hope that by then, all polytechnics would have complied with our request and will be present for proper engagement”, he added.
Despite the setback, the Committee received and adopted the report presented by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje, as a working document to guide further deliberations.
Rep. Laguda used the opportunity to send a strong message to leadership across Federal Polytechnics, urging Rectors to sit up and demonstrate greater commitment to institutional development and accountability.
He stressed that the Committee’s oversight actions should not be misconstrued as punitive or adversarial.
“The House is not out to witch-hunt anyone. Our responsibility is to strengthen these institutions and ensure they are positioned to deliver on their mandate. Oversight is about improvement, not intimidation.”
The Chairman underscored the urgent need for Nigeria’s polytechnic system to reclaim its pride of place as a hub for technical innovation, vocational excellence, and manpower development.
According to him, the country cannot achieve meaningful industrialization, job creation, and economic diversification without a vibrant and properly managed technical education sector.
He urged Rectors to refocus their leadership priorities toward restoring polytechnics to their “glory days,” when they were widely respected for producing highly skilled, technically competent, and industry-ready graduates.
“Our polytechnics must be repositioned to churn out employable graduates who can compete globally and meet the technological and industrial needs of Nigeria. Leadership at that level must reflect seriousness, planning, and strategic direction,” he said.
The Committee reaffirmed its resolve to maintain close cooperation with the polytechnics, the National Board for Technical Education and other key stakeholders to strengthen funding efficiency, upgrade infrastructure and raise academic standards across the sector.
A fresh date for the postponed budget defence will be announced in due course. Members have called on all affected institutions to ensure they are fully prepared and properly represented when the session resumes.
PETROAN said it summoned an emergency meeting with its National Executive Council after the NMDPRA raised the fuel under-dispensing issue.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has directed its members nationwide to immediately inspect their dispensing meters following concerns raised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over under-dispensing of petroleum products at retail outlets.
PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme.
He said the association summoned an emergency meeting with its National Executive Council on Tuesday after the NMDPRA raised the issue, with the meeting lasting until about 10 pm.
“PETRON circulated a message around the country, calling our members to check their meters as quickly as possible,” Gillis-Harry said.
He added that several members had already begun inspecting their equipment, stressing that faulty meters could result in either under-dispensing or over-dispensing.
“Equipment can be faulty over time because of usage,” he said, recalling that he had previously lost money in his own retail business because a faulty meter was dispensing more fuel than customers paid for.
Gillis-Harry assured motorists that PETROAN members would continue to ensure that customers receive the quantity of fuel displayed on the pump.
“But I can tell you that PETRON members will, at all times, insist on making sure that they sell their products one litre for one litre,” he said.
The PETROAN President also urged motorists to pay attention to the quantity displayed on dispensing meters while buying fuel and to request receipts for their purchases.
He explained that customers should know the capacity of their vehicle’s fuel tank and compare it with the quantity displayed on the dispenser.
“Oftentimes, we educate our staff to call the attention of the patron to check the meter while it is being dispensed. And also to get the customer to check after the product has been dispensed,” he said.
According to him, PETROAN also works with the Weights and Measures Division of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the NMDPRA to ensure that dispensing meters remain functional and accurate.
“PETRON consistently works with the Weights and Measures Division of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, and also the NMDPRA. These are the two regulatory authorities that ensure that our meters are functional. And they are up to date and accurate,” he said.
The NMDPRA has warned filling station operators against under-dispensing petroleum products, with outlets found short-changing consumers liable to sanctions, including the revocation of their operating licences.
Gillis-Harry said PETROAN had taken the regulator’s concerns seriously and had begun working with its members to address any possible faults.
“But we took what the NMDPRA called our attention to yesterday very seriously. And we already started working on that,” he said.
Channels
TEHRAN — Millions of Iranian children returned to classrooms on Wednesday as schools across the country reopened after months of disruption linked to the war and security situation in the region.
Parents accompanied their children to school, with girls arriving in uniforms and mandatory headscarves, as the new academic year began in Tehran and other parts of Iran.
The reopening follows months of uncertainty after classes were suspended following the outbreak of the conflict on February 28. One of the deadliest incidents occurred in the southern city of Minab, where a school was struck during the conflict, killing dozens of people, including children.
Iranian officials said the tragedy had cast a shadow over preparations for the new school year, with authorities taking steps to mark the return of students while remembering those killed.
In Minab on Wednesday, Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology, Hossein Afshin, rang the school bell at a primary school to officially signal the start of the new academic term.
The traditional bell-ringing ceremony is normally associated with the president and forms part of nationwide celebrations welcoming approximately 16.5 million Iranian children back to school.
A separate ceremony featuring President Masoud Pezeshkian was held two days earlier this year, before the Iranian leader travelled to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
The reopening represents a return to normal educational activities after months in which the conflict disrupted daily life and forced schools to close in affected areas.
For many families, however, the first day back to school carries mixed emotions, coming after a period marked by military attacks, deaths and widespread disruption.
The government has sought to maintain the annual school-opening tradition despite the difficult circumstances, while officials have continued to commemorate victims of the conflict.
The new academic year will now see millions of Iranian students resume lessons as authorities attempt to restore regular schooling following the prolonged disruption.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu, has fundamentally redefined infrastructure development across the nation’s capital.
Wike made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja, while addressing newsmen after he inspected some ongoing road projects designed to de-congest traffic and unlock development across the territory.
The minister inspected the ongoing construction of Arterial Road SI, from Ring Road II to Arterial Road S20 (Oladipo Diya Way) in Kaura District and Collector Road C2 in Life Camp to Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way).
He also inspected the ongoing construction of Arterial Road N16 from Ring Road II to Ring Road III and the Jereton Mariere Street by the Apo Legislative Quarters in Gudu District, as well as the ongoing remodeling and renovation of the IBB Golf Course.
“We are happy because we can see that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has redefined infrastructure as far as the FCT is concern,” Wike said.
Expressing satisfaction with the pace of work and quality of execution, the minister said that the administration remained on track to deliver the projects ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He particularly expressed optimism that the Arterial Road N16 would be completed as scheduled, in spite of the complex terrain and heavy bridge construction on the road corridor.
He noted that in spite of the difficult geography, the firm guaranteed delivery by the first week of January.
“If that N16 job is completed, obviously, the entire area will be a different thing altogether. That is a very huge infrastructure landmark,” he said.
Speaking on the renovation of the IBB Golf Course, the minister reaffirmed that the club would be fully operational and ready to host major tournaments by November.
Addressing financial backings for the ongoing projects, Wike said that the 2026 capital budget had hit 60 per cent performance.
He added that in spite of initial delays in budget release that briefly affected contractor payments, funding flow had stabilised, enabling contractors to work at full capacity.
He dismissed political rhetoric ahead of the upcoming election cycle, while advising political office seekers to focus on presenting their records to voters rather than engaging in distractions.
Fuel Under-Dispensing: PETROAN Orders Members To ‘Check’ Meters Nationwide
Kwankwaso Blames Tinubu’s Fuel Subsidy Removal for Nigeria’s Economic Crisis
Iranian Children Return to School After Months of War Disruption as New Academic Year Begins
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