OPENING REMARKS DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, (DR.) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PUBLIC HEARING ORGANISED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AND TETFUND – SENATE CONFERENCE HALL, ROOM 231, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, ABUJA – DECEMBER 10, 2018.
PROTOCOL.
1. It is my pleasure to declare open this Public Hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND. I would like to express my appreciation to the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Barau I. Jibrin – and to the entire members of the Committee – for all the work they have done on the Bills being looked at today, and for organising this Public Hearing for that purpose.
2. I welcome all stakeholders in the education sector, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and indeed all interested and concerned members of the public to this Public Hearing. After robust debates in plenary and close examination in Committee, the proposed legislations presented for further consideration today are three Bills, namely:
i. Federal University of Education Kontagora, Niger State (Establishment, Etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB. 689);
ii. Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru (Establishment, Etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB. 686);
iii. City University of Technology, Kaduna (Establishment, Etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB. 360);
3. These are Bills seeking to establish three universities in the northern part of Nigeria; this is highly significant and should matter to all of us. According to the National University Commission (NUC), there are less than 200 universities available to serve the entire student population of Nigeria. And as the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed has made known, only 19 percent of the two million students who applied for university in 2017 were accepted. In comparison, the United States has over 5,000 higher education institutions to serve a population of 319 million.
4. Given the facts, we cannot avoid the reality that access to education remains a very real challenge in this country. These Bills are therefore keying into the vision of increasing access to education, in order to equip our youths to propel the growth and development of Nigeria. The proposed establishment of the three new universities in Kontagora, Zuru and Kaduna is very much geared towards that desired greater accessibility of higher education to citizens.
5. In light of barriers to learning as identified time and again, we are seeking contributions at this Public Hearing, because your views and insights will be crucial to the revival and sustenance of our education sector. I enjoin you all to ensure that the provisions of the listed Bills receive your due attention, so that we can get them to be fit for the purpose. Let me assure that we shall take on board your comments and take very seriously your critiques. If we are to transform our education sector, it bears restating that we need Bills that will come with the maximum benefit for Nigerians.
6. The 8th Senate remains committed to transforming the education sector through the lawmaking function. I have no doubt, therefore, that the outcome of this Public Hearing will be a big step forward in that direction, particularly with regard to paving the way for greater intake of qualified applicants in tertiary institutions
7. Accordingly, distinguished colleagues, stakeholders and invited guests, I hereby declare this Public Hearing open. I wish you successful deliberations.
Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
