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NBTE Pushes For Polytechnic Commission As It Meets With Reps Committee
NBTE Pushes For Polytechnic Commission As It Meets With Reps Committee. The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has met with the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnic to advocate for the Board’s upgrade to the National Polytechnic Commission in the country.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
NBTE’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, made the plea during his presentation to the House Committee, which was chaired by Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda at the Board’s Headquarters in Kaduna.
He also highlighted that the Board has been inadequately funded over the years, which has affected its oversight functions and curriculum review for the over 700 institutions under its supervision.
The chairman and members of the House Committee conducted an oversight visit to the Board in Kaduna.
“We warmly welcome this Honourable Committee to the NBTE, and we look forward to greater collaborations to move this sector forward. The struggle to upgrade NBTE to the National Polytechnic Commission has started, and your support is indispensable in realizing this dream,” Bugaje said.
Bugaje highlighted the critical role TVET plays in addressing the nation’s skill gaps, particularly in infrastructure development.
“No economy can grow without infrastructure. We have the AKK Gas Pipeline, Trans-Saharan Natural Gas Pipeline, Rail Upgrade and Expansion, Mambila Power Plant, and Dangote Refinery and Urea Plant, among others.”
However, Bugaje lamented that these projects were being executed with imported skilled labour from Asia, while Nigerian youths remained jobless.
According to him, “Every polytechnic has a Skills Development Centre, established with TETFund intervention. We must utilize these facilities to train our youths.”
He also identified some challenges facing TVET institutions, including poor funding, outdated curricula, lack of modern equipment, and stigmatization of TVET graduates.
“The 2024 budget was our worst, with significant cuts at the National Assembly. We need adequate funding to review ND/HND curricula within the five-year time frame,” Bugaje said.
This was just as he expressed concern over the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2013 and implemented in 2017, saying that “NSQF provides a bridge between workplaces and education/training institutions, ensuring quality assurance for all stakeholders.”
Bugaje warned that the NSQF was under threat from the ITF Amendment Act 2024 while noting that “we must protect this framework to ensure Nigeria’s skill development aligns with global standards.”
Regarding the NBTE’s land dispute in Abuja, Bugaje recounted the longstanding issue, noting that “In 2003, the land was allocated to NBTE at Maitama with Certificate of Occupancy No. 445. However, DB Mangal seized two-thirds of the land and built ‘Murjanatu House’ for commercial renting.”
The matter is currently before the Appeal Court.
“We seek the Tinubu Administration’s investigation into this and nine other critical inherited corruption matters,” Bugaje added.
In his response, the House Committee Chairman assured the NBTE of the committee’s support.
“We will work closely with the NBTE to address the challenges facing TVET institutions and ensure Nigeria’s skill development meets global standards.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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