The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education Thursday asked the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, to appear before it unfailingly on September 17, 2026, or risk facing legislative punitive measures.

He was also given until August 18, 2026, to submit all documents relating to the implementation of the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme.

The committee gave the directive at its investigative hearing at the National Assembly after expressing dismay with the minister’s consistent disregard for her invitation to appear before it.

While issuing the directive, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Fuad Laguda, disclosed that the panel had written to the ministry on several occasions, beginning on January 30, 2025, requesting details on the implementation of the TVET programme, with the latest correspondence sent on July 30, 2026.

“We have written several correspondences starting from January 30, 2025, seeking information on the activities of the Technical and Vocational Education Training programme being implemented by the government. The last invitation was on July 30, but the minister is not here and no representative was sent,” Laguda said.

He described the minister’s absence as unexpected, noting that the Committee had previously maintained a cordial working relationship with the ministry.

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 exercise of its oversight functions.

Several lawmakers condemned the minister’s repeated absence, describing it as an affront to the authority of Parliament.

Hon. Rabiu Yusuf accused the minister of showing “a high level of disrespect” to the National Assembly 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 legislative institution by the executive, particularly the Minister of Education,” Yusuf said.

Similarly, Hon. Bayo Adepoju described the minister’s conduct as unacceptable in a democratic setting.

“This is a direct affront to Parliament. 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.

However, the Committee stepped back from plans to pass a vote of no confidence after some members appealed for restraint.

Hon. Paul Kalejaiye urged the panel to give the minister one final opportunity to explain his absence before taking punitive measures, a position later supported by Adepoju and adopted by the Committee.

Backing the decision, Laguda said he believed the minister deserved the benefit of the doubt.

“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 resolved to issue a fresh correspondence directing the ministry to submit all requested documents on the TVET programme to its secretariat on or before August 18, 2026, and adjourned the investigative hearing to September 17, 2026, when the minister is expected to appear in person.

Laguda said the documents would enable lawmakers to scrutinise the implementation of the TVET initiative from inception and ensure accountability in the utilisation of public funds earmarked for technical and vocational education.

“We are using this platform to request the ministry to supply the committee with all the necessary information requested from inception to date. The submission should reach the committee’s secretariat by August 18.

“We are adjourning this meeting with the Minister and the Ministry of Education to September 17, and we hope the Minister will be present on the new date,” he said.

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