Senate holds public hearings on establishment of Federal poly in Daura, four other institutions

The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETfund has held a public hearing on bill seeking the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic in Daura, Katsina State.

The bill is one of the five bills that came under public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee chaired by Sen. Barau Jibrin (Kano-North).

When approved the proposed Federal Polytechnic, Daura, would be the first federal institution in Katsina North Senatorial District, according to promoters of the bill.

The bill, being sponsored by Sen. Ahmed Baba-Keita, was initiated by his immediate predecessor, Sen. Mustapha Bukar, who died early this year.

Also featuring at the public hearing were bills seeking the establishment of the Federal University of Education, Aguleri, Anambra, and the National Institute of Construction Technology and Management, Uromi, Edo.

They are being sponsored by Sen. Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and Cliford Ordia (Edo Central) respectively.

Others were the Federal Polytechnic, Ikom, Cross Rivers (Establishment) Bill, 2018 sponsored by Sen. John Eno (Cross Rivers Central), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2018.

Speaking at the event, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said the proposed laws were designed to ensure the provision of quality education in all parts of the country.

Saraki, who was represented by the Minority Whip of the Senate, Sen. Philip Aduda, decried the fallen standards of education in Nigeria over the last two decades.

He, however, said the Senate remained committed to reversing the situation through quality legislation and oversight.

Earlier, Vice Chairman of the committee, Sen. Tijani Kaura, congratulated and lauded promoters of the bills for their efforts in pushing them this far.

Kaura, who presided on behalf of the committee chairman, said it was a demonstration of their commitment to their constituents.

He also commended the senate president for his “concern for nation’s educational system, and for ensuring the bills were subjected to public hearing in a conducive atmosphere”.

All the bills, except that of the NBTE Act, were endorsed by by relevant stakeholders present.

The NBTE bill was skipped because none of its invited stakeholders made appearance at the hearing.