Speaker of House of Representatives, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has explained why members must suspend consideration of more bills for establishment of additional public universities in Nigeria
Gbajabiamila who was speaking during plenary in Abuja on Thursday admidst sharp division among members over a move to place an embargo on introduction and passage of bills to establish more universities, stressed the need for adequate funding of the existing public universities by the Federal Government
According to him, it has become necessary to check the proliferation of universities, especially now when the Federal Government can’t adequately fund the existing ones.
The Speaker told members how university lecturers urged the National Assembly to curb the proliferation of universities in the country when the leadership of the House met with stakeholders on Tuesday over the lingering crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government.
He added that the restrictions would be placed on varsity establishment in the ongoing amendments to the National Universities Commission Act.
The move however suffered a setback, forcing the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, to tell the lawmakers to bring “as many as possible.”
While some lawmakers decried the proliferation of universities, others blamed proposals for the establishment of higher academic institutions on the pressure being mounted by constituents.
Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, speaking during the debate among members for second reading consideration of legislation titled, “A Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of Federal University of Transportation, Daura, Katsina State,pointed out that the proposals for creation of more univarsities were for political reasons,
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