TVET Probe: Reps give Education minister Sept 17 deadline, demand records

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education has directed the Federal Ministry of Education to submit all records relating to the implementation of the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme by August 18, 2026.

The committee also issued a final invitation to the Minister of Education, directing him to personally appear before lawmakers on September 17, 2026, to explain the implementation of the programme and address concerns raised during the ongoing investigation.

The resolutions were reached on Thursday during an investigative hearing at the National Assembly, where lawmakers expressed displeasure over the minister’s repeated failure to honour invitations or send a representative to appear before the committee.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, said the panel had been requesting relevant information on the TVET programme since January 30, 2025, but the ministry had yet to provide the requested documents.

According to him, the latest invitation to the ministry was issued on July 30, 2026, but neither the minister nor any representative appeared before the committee.

“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 said the committee had maintained a cordial relationship with the ministry in the past, describing the minister’s absence as unexpected and contrary to the principles of legislative oversight.

Laguda 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 in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The minister’s absence attracted criticism from members of the committee, with Hon. Rabiu Yusuf accusing him of showing “a high level of disrespect” to the legislature.

“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.

Another member of the committee, Hon. Bayo Adepoju, described the development as “a direct affront to Parliament,” insisting that Nigerians deserved transparency on the implementation of the programme.

“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.

Although some lawmakers called for a vote of no confidence against the minister, the committee resolved to give him another opportunity to appear before considering any further action.

Hon. Paul Kalejaiye and other members appealed for restraint, urging the committee to issue a final invitation and allow the minister to respond.

“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.

Laguda also expressed belief that the minister’s absence might have been due to unforeseen circumstances.

“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.

The committee subsequently directed the Ministry of Education to submit all documents and information relating to the TVET programme, from inception to date, to its secretariat on or before August 18, 2026.

“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.

He added that the committee would reconvene with the minister and officials of the ministry on September 17, 2026, expressing hope that the minister would appear in person.

The committee said the requested documents would enable lawmakers to properly assess the implementation of the TVET programme and ensure accountability in the management of public funds allocated to technical and vocational education.

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