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Torkwase Nyiekaa
The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education on Thursday faulted the Minister of Education for repeatedly failing to honour its invitations over the implementation of the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, directing the ministry to submit all relevant documents by August 18 and giving the minister a final deadline of September 17 to appear before lawmakers.
The committee also stopped short of passing a vote of no confidence on the minister after members agreed to give him one final opportunity to explain his repeated absence before taking further legislative action.
The resolutions followed an investigative hearing into the implementation of the Federal Government’s TVET programme, during which lawmakers expressed frustration that the minister neither appeared nor delegated any official to represent the ministry despite repeated invitations and official correspondences.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, said the panel had maintained a cordial working relationship with the Federal Ministry of Education but described the minister’s continued absence as unexpected and unacceptable.
He disclosed that the committee had written several letters to the ministry, beginning on January 30, 2025, requesting information on the implementation of the TVET initiative, with the latest correspondence sent on July 30, 2026, inviting the minister to appear before lawmakers.
“We have written several correspondences starting from January 30, 2025, seeking information on the activities of 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 reminded the ministry that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empower the National Assembly to investigate the activities of ministries, departments and agencies as part of its legislative oversight responsibilities.
Several lawmakers condemned what they described as the ministry’s disregard for Parliament.
Hon. Rabiu Yusuf accused the minister of displaying “a high level of disrespect” for the legislature and moved a motion for a vote of no confidence against him.
“This communication was neither acknowledged nor responded to. Information requested by the committee was not provided. 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,” Yusuf said.
Similarly, Hon. Bayo Adepoju described the minister’s repeated failure to honour the committee’s invitations as a direct affront to Parliament.
“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.
Despite the criticisms, some members urged restraint.
Hon. Paul Kalejaiye appealed to the panel to allow the minister one final opportunity to appear before any punitive measures were considered.
“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,” Kalejaiye said.
Adepoju also supported giving the minister a final opportunity while insisting that the committee’s displeasure should be formally placed on record.
Laguda aligned with the position of the members, noting that his previous engagements with the minister suggested the absence may not have been deliberate.
“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.
Following deliberations, the committee directed the Federal Ministry of Education to submit all documents and information relating to the implementation of the TVET programme to its secretariat on or before August 18, 2026.
It also adjourned the investigative hearing to September 17, 2026, directing the Minister of Education to personally appear before the panel on that date.
Announcing the committee’s resolution, Laguda said the ministry was expected to provide comprehensive information covering the implementation of the technical and vocational education initiative from inception to date.
“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.
“We are adjourning this meeting with the Minister and the Ministry of Education to the 17th of September, and we hope that the minister will be present on the new date given,” he said.
The committee said the requested documents would form the basis of its continued investigation into the implementation of the TVET programme as lawmakers prepare to question the minister when the hearing resumes on September 17.
