The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has urged the management of Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger to strive to maintain standards
By EricJames Ochigbo
The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education has urged the management of Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger to strive to maintain standards in they introduce new programmes.
The committee, at a public hearing on budget performance in Abuja, charged the leadership polytechnic to sustain and improve upon its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)
The charge followed an observation made by Rep. Emil Inyang ( APC-Cross River) who observed that the polytechnic was performing below expectations regarding its IGR.
Responding, the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Baba Haruna told the committee that, the institution was facing stiff competition from various existing and new institutions.
He explained that courses which the only school offered for decades are now being offered by other institutions around the region, hence the reduction in admission intakes.
The rector said that only about two or three polytechnics offered Chemical Engineering in the whole of northern Nigeria, but now they are over 12 institutions offering the course.
“We are trying to make up by bringing up other courses that are not in Bidda. We have just gotten about eight new programmes resources inspections.
“Two or three weeks ago, we got 29 programmes accredited; we are also trying to catch up,” he said.
In his remarks, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Dalladi Suleiman ( ) urged the management to maintain standards as they expand their courses as it will attract knowledge seekers.
He told the management to tidy up and update some of their financial records for further scrutiny saying that the committee had observed discrepancies in its overhead spending.
The lawmaker said that only the National Assembly has powers to grant extra budgetary spending. (NAN)
