The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and Other Higher Technical Education has advised federal polytechnic rectors to be more inventive by providing courses and programs that can help them maximise the potential of their catchment areas. The committee specifically requested that the rectors implement courses aimed at rescuing or preventing teenagers from becoming bandit agents.
The call was made by the Committee’s Chairman, Fuad Kayode Laguda, and other committee members during an oversight session with rectors and management staff from Federal Polytechnic Kauran-Namoda, Zamfara State; Federal Polytechnic Bauchi; Federal Polytechnic Kaltungo, Gombe State; and Federal Polytechnic Bali, Taraba State.
Rep. Laguda, speaking after a presentation by the rector of Federal Polytechnic Kauran-Namoda, Zamfara State, Jonathan Murdi, emphasised that the university should provide courses in disciplines such as geology and mining to educate youngsters and prevent them from becoming bandits or acting as agents. He said, “As we talked earlier, why don’t you offer mining training in your area?
If you do, the gold and minerals discovered in the soil could be examined in your school, generating internal money for you.” He continued, “These possibilities are there under your nose; you should not pass them up. Innovation is about addressing today’s challenges, and this is part of it.” Rep. Laguda emphasised that establishing such courses would help address the dwindling student population in Zamfara State, which has been hampered by insecurity.
“We’re happy to learn that student enrolment is increasing rather than dropping. This can be accomplished by upholding high standards. If we generate high-quality graduates, companies will notice. “They will hire our graduates, and parents will soon send their children to your school,” he stated.
Following his presentation, the rector was asked to give more documentation, such as proof of insurance payments and a report on the growth in personnel expenditures despite a 50-person gap in 2024. During the session, Dr. Sani Usman, rector of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, informed the committee that the institution, which was founded in 1976, employs 2,112 academic and non-academic staff. The polytechnic offers 36 academic programs and serves 11,000 students.
After demonstrating the school’s financial performance since 2021, Dr. Usman and his management team were asked to submit additional specific information within seven working days. Dr. Sulaiman Lame, rector of Federal Polytechnic Kaltungo in Gombe State, stated that the institution was created in 2019 and significant staff recruitment began in 2020. He stated that the polytechnic presently employs 500 people, with 65% academic and 35% non-academic workers.
The organisation currently has 300 students and provides 11 majors across four schools. Dr. Lame also emphasised the completion of two hostels, one for men and one for women, with capacities of 200 and 350 students, respectively. He announced plans to add more academic courses to better utilise staff.
Following his presentation, the committee asked Dr. Lame to provide specifics about the school’s nominal roll and procurement process, and to return in seven working days. Dr. Mohammed Usman, the rectors of Federal Polytechnic Bali in Taraba State, and his team also presented to the committee. In his opening remarks, Chairman Rep. Fuad Kayode Laguda stated that the oversight session was convened at the National Assembly due to worries about insecurity and other considerations.
“Ordinarily, this meeting should have been held at your individual institutions,” Laguda remarked. “But, for security reasons—our rector from Zamfara can witness to this—we’ve been attacked on two separate occasions when we attempted to meet. In reality, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sokoto was assassinated on the exact route we were planned to take.”
He said, “We would have preferred to meet at your institutions, but time constraints and security concerns compelled us to have this discussion here. We will also be visiting other institutions as part of our oversight duties.”
