By Bayo Davids<\/p>\n
A bill seeking the creation of the Federal Capital Territory University, Abaji, has passed the first reading stage at the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Sponsored by the member representing Abaji\/Gwagwalada\/Kwali Federal Constituency, Abdulrahman Ajiya, the bill seeks to establish the first FCT-owned university, an equivalent of a state-owned institution.<\/p>\n
A copy of the bill exclusively obtained by our correspondent showed that the objective of the institution when established would include to \u201cEncourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex, religion, physical ability or political conviction, the opportunity to acquire a higher education in every aspect of education.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is also intended to \u201cDevelop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research and higher degrees that emphasise planning, adaptive, technical, maintenance, development and productive skills in the engineering, scientific, and allied professional disciplines.<\/p>\n
Others include \u201cTo act as agents and catalysts, through post-graduate training, research, and innovation for the effective and economic utilization, exploitation and conservation of the country’s natural, economic, and human resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cOffer to the general population, as a form of public service, the results of training and research and to foster the practical applications of these results as well as to identify the educational problems and needs of society and to find solutions to them within the context of overall national development.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part II of the bill which covers the composition of the council of the proposed university listed members to include the Pro-Chancellor; Vice-Chancellor; Deputy Vice-Chancellor; one person from the Ministry responsible for education; nine persons representing a variety of interests and a representative of the whole federation to be appointed by the President.<\/p>\n
The council will also consists of \u201cFour persons appointed by the Senate from among its members, two persons appointed by the Congregation from among its members, one person appointed by convocation from among its members and three persons representing Area Councils to be appointed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.\u201d<\/p>\n
The proposed legislation provides for a Committee of the Council to be known as the Finance and General Purposes Committee, \u201cwhich shall, subject to the council’s directions, exercise control over the property and expenditure of the university and perform such other functions of the council as the council may occasionally delegate to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The council is also vested with the powers \u201cTo ensure that proper accounts of the university are kept and that the accounts of the niversity are audited annually by an independent firm of auditors approved by the council and that an annual report is published by the university together with certified copies of the said accounts as audited.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bill is now set for a return to the floor of the Green Chamber for Second Reading, after which the relevant committees will organise a public hearing to garner stakeholders\u2019 input ahead of third reading and passage.<\/p>\n
The Federal Capital Territory currently hosts the University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, a Federal Government-owned institution and other private-owned universities.<\/p>\n
*Funding Challenges*<\/p>\n
Speaking exclusively with our correspondent, Professor of Mass Communication at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Cosmos Eze warned that unless government-owned academic institutions are fully funded, creating new ones would not avail the nation the needed mileage.<\/p>\n
He said, “Why are state and Federal Government creating more institutions when existing ones are facing funding challenges? During the government of Muhammadu Buhari’s, public universities lost a session to strike embarked upon by the Academic and Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).<\/p>\n
“Varsities owned by the various state governments are not doing any better. Funding remains a challenge. I am not sure another university in Abuja is a priority for the indigenous people of the territory for now.”<\/p>\n
The bill is expected to return on the floor of the Green Chamber in September when the legislative chamber resumes from its annual vacation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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