Morganable politics/Legislative Affairs
The Chairman of the committee, Kayode Laguda, said the panel had written several letters to the ministry since January 30, 2025, requesting information on the implementation and activities of the government’s TVET initiative
kaNo —
The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education has issued a final summons to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, to appear personally before it on September 17, 2026.
The summons was over an investigation into the implementation of the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme.
The committee also directed the Federal Ministry of Education to submit all documents and information relating to the implementation of the TVET programme to the committee’s secretariat on or before August 18, warning that continued failure to cooperate with the lawmakers could lead to further legislative action.
The resolutions were reached on Thursday during an investigative hearing at the National Assembly, where lawmakers expressed displeasure over what they described as the minister’s repeated failure to honour invitations to appear before the committee or send an authorised representative.
The Chairman of the committee, Kayode Laguda, said the panel had written several letters to the ministry since January 30, 2025, requesting information on the implementation and activities of the government’s TVET initiative.
According to him, the committee’s most recent correspondence, dated July 30, 2026, again requested detailed information on the programme and invited the minister to appear before the lawmakers.
“We have written several correspondences starting from January 30, 2025, seeking information on the activities of the Technical Vocational Education Training being implemented by the government. The last invitation was on July 30, but the minister is not here, and no representative was sent to the committee,” Laguda said.
He described the minister’s absence as unexpected, particularly because the committee had previously maintained a cordial relationship with the Federal Ministry of Education.
National Assembly Constitutionally Empowered To Investigate MDAs
He specifically cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which empower the National Assembly and its committees to conduct investigations into matters within their legislative competence and examine the activities of government agencies.
Lawmakers Accuse Minister Of Disrespecting The Assembly
The minister’s absence generated strong reactions among members of the committee, with some lawmakers accusing the education minister of disregarding the authority of Parliament.
A member of the committee, Rabiu Yusuf, described the situation as a “high level of disrespect” to the National Assembly and moved a motion seeking a vote of no confidence in the minister.
“We can rightly assume that there is a high level of disrespect to the institution of the legislative body by the executive, particularly the Minister of Education. I think it is high time for us to pass a vote of no confidence on the minister,” He added.
Another member, Bayo Adepoju, also condemned the minister’s repeated absence, describing it as a direct affront to Parliament.
Committee Has Responsibility To Scrutinise Programmes
Adepoju argued that the committee had a constitutional responsibility to scrutinise the implementation of government programmes and that Nigerians deserved to know how the TVET initiative was being implemented.
“This is rude, unacceptable and something that should not happen in a democracy. We are constitutionally empowered to conduct oversight on Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Nobody is above parliament. After six letters to the ministry, the minister has still failed to appear. Nigerians deserve to know how this programme is being implemented,” he said.
However, other members called for restraint and urged the committee to give the minister another opportunity to comply before resorting to punitive measures.
“This is the first time we are making a public pronouncement on him. We should give the honourable minister another chance by issuing him an ultimatum and fixing a date to appear before this committee before we pass a vote of no confidence,” he said.
Adepoju subsequently supported the proposal, maintaining that although the minister’s conduct was unacceptable, the committee should formally register its displeasure while giving the ministry one final opportunity to comply with its demands.
Laguda also endorsed the approach, noting that his previous engagements with Alausa did not suggest that the minister would deliberately disregard the committee.
“I’ve had engagements with the minister in the past. I don’t see him as someone who would deliberately do this. Maybe there are reasons for it, but whatever is responsible, this definitely should not happen again,” he said.
Lawmakers Give Minister Ultimatum
Following the deliberations, the committee resolved to give the Federal Ministry of Education until August 18 to submit all previously requested documents and information on the TVET programme.
The lawmakers directed that the documents should cover the implementation of the initiative from its inception to date, including information necessary for the committee to assess its execution and effectiveness.
“We are using this platform to request from the ministry to supply the committee with the necessary information that has been requested from inception to date. The submission of this information should be made available to the secretariat by the 18th of August.”Laguda said
The committee thereafter adjourned the investigative hearing until September 17, when the minister is expected to personally appear before the lawmakers.
“We are adjourning this meeting with the minister and the Ministry of Education to September 17, and we hope that the minister will be present on the new date given,” Laguda added.
The investigation comes against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition TVET as a major component of its education and economic development strategy.
The programme is designed to expand access to technical and vocational education, provide young Nigerians with practical and industry-relevant skills, address unemployment and help bridge the skills gap affecting the country’s workforce.
The committee’s investigation is expected to examine how the programme has been implemented, including its funding, execution, institutional coordination and overall effectiveness.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education in Abuja, Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to making TVET a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrialisation, economic competitiveness and youth empowerment.
The minister said the government was deliberately moving the education system away from an overdependence on paper qualifications towards producing competent, innovative and highly skilled graduates capable of contributing to industrial development, entrepreneurship and national productivity.
He described the inauguration of the NBTE governing board as an important milestone in implementing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on education and human capital development.
Alausa expressed confidence that the newly appointed board members would provide the strategic leadership required to strengthen the NBTE, deepen reforms in the technical education sector and accelerate the development of a globally competitive workforce.
The contrasting developments have placed renewed attention on the administration’s TVET agenda, with the House seeking greater transparency and accountability in its implementation while the Education Ministry continues to present technical education as central to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
The September 17 appearance will therefore provide the committee an opportunity to question the minister directly on the programme and review the documents expected to be submitted by the ministry.
Failure to meet the August 18 deadline or the September 17 summons could further escalate the confrontation between the committee and the ministry and potentially trigger additional legislative measures.
