House of Representatives Advocates for Increased Funding for Polytechnics in 2025 Budget

Kwara State, 16 October 2024 — The House of Representatives has pledged to push for enhanced funding for Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria as part of the 2025 budget deliberations. Kayode Laguda, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, made this commitment during an oversight visit to the Federal Polytechnic in Offa, Kwara State.

Laguda highlighted that inadequate funding is a widespread issue affecting polytechnics across the country, not just Offa. He stated, “Funding issues are not peculiar to Federal Polytechnic, Offa alone. Other Federal Polytechnics that the committee has visited have also raised funding concerns. We intend to advocate for increased funding from the Federal Government for the polytechnic community in next year’s budget and beyond.”

Dr. Kadiri Kamoru, Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, emphasized the need for more financial support to foster technological development in Nigeria. He called on the Federal Government to grant degree-awarding status to polytechnics, arguing that this would help eliminate the existing divide between university and polytechnic graduates.

Kamoru pointed out that the Polytechnic Act allows for degree awards, asserting that the institution has the necessary qualifications, including over 65 PhD-holding academic staff, to meet these requirements. He stated, “If the Federal Government allows us to award degrees and establishes a professorial cadre in the polytechnics, there will be no dichotomy between university and polytechnic graduates.”

The committee’s visit included a thorough review of the institution’s documentation, with Laguda encouraging the submission of any additional information to support their funding advocacy efforts.

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