‎Reps, stakeholders back establishment of FCT University, College of Agric

The House of Representatives on Tuesday began the processes of establishing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) University of Science and Technology and the FCT College of Agriculture.

This came as the House committee on FCT, organized a public hearing on two bills for the establishment of the two Tertiary Institutions

In the nation’s Federal Capital Territory which was totally endorsed by the Stakeholders present at the public hearing.

According to the Bills, if passed into laws by the two chambers of the National Assembly, the two Higher Institutions are to be located at Abaji and Yaba respectively.

The two institutions which are the first of their kinds to be established by the FCT administration since inception are to focus squarely on the purposes for their establishment in line with their names.

Speaking on the importance of the establishment of the two Tertiary Institutions, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Herma Hembe said the committee would ensure it worked with its Senate counterpart for the two chambers to pass the two bills and forward them to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent before the next academic session.

According to him, “One of the problems that contributed to this long delay is probably one of the Chambers complete work on the bill and the other could not. It could also be that the two Chambers were able to finish work on the bills and send it to the President for assent but for a reason or another he could not.

“This time, the House is going to ensure that the Senate expedite action on the bills and send to the President for assent. The University is ready, the infrastructures facilities for its smooth take off are in place and ready to take in 200 students.”

“So, we are mindful of the benefits this would impact on our education system and FCT in particular and that is why we are determined this time, to make this a reality because it is unthinkable that the FCT does not have its own tertiary institution.”

Also speaking at the public hearing, the Director of Drafting and legal services, FCT Administration, Mallam Isa Bin Abdullahi, suggested that the name be changed to Abuja University of Science and Technology.

According to him, “the name should be all encompassing, so that it will show that the institution is owned by the FCT and not by the city, which is part of the FCT'”.

On his part, a member of the committee, Hon Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi said: “In as much as we’re looking at nomenclature, we must look at the yearning of the people and the environment. We need to go with a name that connotes ownership.”

Also speaking, the Director of department of private universities at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abdullahi Hamza, said the name suggested for the university should be retained.

The committee therefore adopted the original name as contained in the draft bill while all stakeholders spoke in favour of the establishments of the two higher Institutions as contained in the two bills.

In his remarks, the Minister of FCT, Mallam. Mohammad Bello Commended the Committee members for their Corporations since he came on Board as the Minister and pleaded with them to expedite action on the passage of the bills, saying that his administration was fully ready for the smooth take of the two institutions.