Reps Clear Polytechnics’ Budget Reports, Put Computer Council Under Scrutiny

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has approved the budget performance reports of federal polytechnics nationwide, while raising critical concerns over compliance and staffing issues at the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).

The resolutions followed a budget defence session held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, attended by rectors and senior officials of the affected institutions.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Fuad Laguda, reaffirmed the House’s commitment to strengthening the polytechnic system through closer collaboration and sustained investment.

He described polytechnics as vital to Nigeria’s industrialisation drive, stressing that their role in producing middle-level technical manpower remains central to national development.

“Polytechnics are indispensable to our technological and industrial aspirations. The country’s quest for advancement cannot be achieved without well-funded and properly equipped technical institutions,” Laguda said.

Representing Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State, the lawmaker assured stakeholders of the committee’s support, adding, “We are always partners in progress. Everything we do is to improve and make things work better.”

He, however, urged the Committee of Federal Rectors to ensure that institutions yet to submit their budget documents do so promptly to enable effective legislative oversight.

In a related development, the committee turned its attention to the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, mandating its Registrar, Mr. Adebayo Adegbiji, to submit all outstanding documents within seven days.

Laguda questioned the council’s operational efficiency, particularly how it manages eight regional offices with just 58 staff members. He sought clarity on how the CPN sustains coordination and service delivery under such staffing constraints.

Responding, Adegbiji assured lawmakers of the council’s capacity to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

He noted that the CPN is empowered to regulate and accredit private organisations operating within Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

The registrar pledged to provide all requested documents within the stipulated timeframe, reaffirming the council’s readiness to cooperate fully with the committee in the interest of accountability and improved sector performance.