By SANI IDRIS

Prof. Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), says it is poorly funded and under-staffed.

Bugaje spoke on Wednesday in Kaduna when the members of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education paid an oversight visit to the board?s headquarters.

He said that improved funding of the board would ensure up-skilling of Nigerian youths for local and global opportunities.

Bugaje lamented that NBTE was unable to review the ND/HND curricula within the five years? time frame due to poor funding.

He decried that 2024 was the board?s worst budget, with curve-outs at the National Assembly.

Bugaje equally lamented the lack of modern tools, equipment and the use of obsolete equipment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions (TVET).

He also mentioned some of the board?s challenges to include grabbing of its lands by some high-connected and profiled individuals in Abuja, with some of the lands recovered,

The NBTE boss disclosed that the struggle to upgrade it to a National Polytechnic Commission has started, while seeking the committee?s support in realising the dream.

He urged the committee to take the Zonal Offices of the NBTE as its baby, by ensuring that they were built and staffed to take the board to the grassroots.

Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Fuad Laguda, stated that there was no dichotomy between the NBTE and the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC).

He said, ?It is about the NBTE and committee correcting some things that should not be the way they are.?

Laguda, therefore, said it was why the committee came to the NBTE to make a case and correct the wrongs by making things right to ensure equity and justice among all the higher learning institutions.

He equally said the committee would work collaboratively with all the federal polytechnics and the board.

Speaking on under-funding, the chairman advised the board on what to do to improve its budget for maximum performance.

Laguda stated the committee?s commitment to aligning with the overall objectives of a robust and enhanced technical education. (NAN)

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