Nigerian Lawmakers Want 200 New Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics
- Senators are members of the House of Representatives are pushing for about 200 new academic institutions
- Most of the lawmakers want the institutions sited in their constituencies as one of the ways of giving back
- Specifically, there are about 140 bills for the establishment of specialised colleges and 27 for the establishment of polytechnics
If the wish of the 9th National Assembly is to come to reality, many constituencies in Nigeria will boast of a tertiary institution. In fact, there about 126 bills seeking the establishment of universities, Premium Times reports.
This comes despite the challenge of funding these higher institutions in the country. There are also 140 bills for the establishment of specialised colleges and 27 for the establishment of polytechnics.
Source: Twitter
In most of the cases, the lawmakers that proposed the establishment of the institutions want them cited in their constituencies.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians are not happy with the situation and have made their minds known on social media.
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Umar D. Aliyu wrote:
"This kind of mentality will lead this country to nowhere. If the existing ones can not meet up with the desired standard why are we creating another? Please let our representatives/leaders do the right thing at the right time"
Adam Bukar Kanoma
"Misplaced priority. Pls we don't need more of these project. Improve the standard of the one we have and create more industries for our economy to improve. Moreover channel your energy on how to create jobs for our teeming graduates."
Ishaya Katsit
"What is actually wrong with us as a country? Could all these be selfishness at the highest level? More universities without making plans for where graduates would be engaged. Turning out graduates without anything to lay their hands on, or to die hungry ? How did we got here?"
Four new universities approved by Buhari
Meanwhile, the federal government has announced the approval for the establishment of four new universities to address the shortfall in technology, medicine and nutrition in Nigeria.
The minister of education, Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Sonny Echono, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, June 21.
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N18 billion for the establishment of the four specialised universities.
ASUU threatens to embark on fresh strike
In another report, lecturers in public universities across the country are threatening to embark on a fresh industrial action.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) issued the threat when it accused Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, of refusing to pay the salaries and remittance of over 1000 staff for 13 months.
Lazarus Maigoro, the ASUU chairman, University of Jos, issued the threat in a press statement made available to journalists in Jos, the capital of Plateau state.
We'll provide facilities for new Delta varsities to take-off, says Okowa
Delta governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday, April 6 said major facilities needed for the full take-off of the three newly-established universities in the state would be provided within the limit of available resources.
Okowa disclosed this while inspecting ongoing projects at the new Dennis Osadebe University, Asaba, the state capital.
The governor promised that he would do everything humanly possible in the remaining two years of his administration for the universities to operate all approved courses by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Source: Legit.ng
