…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.
