The Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to enacting appropriate legislation that promotes quality and effective educational reforms for the socio-economic and academic development of the country.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio gave the assurance while declaring open a one-day public hearing on the establishment of three new institutions in Nigeria, aimed at enhancing the educational sector in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on education.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by his Deputy, Senator Barau Jibrin, emphasized that the current administration is committed to ensuring education for all, describing it as the bedrock of national development, while stressing the importance of meaningful collaboration to achieve the desired outcomes.
He urged stakeholders to keep an open mind and contribute meaningfully, so the parliament can receive the necessary input for effective legislative action on the bills.
The Senate President assured them that their ideas and experiences would be judiciously utilized to enhance legislation that benefits all Nigerians.
Earlier, the Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tetfund Senator Muntari Muhammad Dandutse said the bills would play a significant role in promoting quality education in the country and reforming the sector for development.
He outlined the bills to include the bill for an act establish the Federal university of technology in Delta state sponsored by Senator Munir Ned Nwoko, Federal University of Education Gumel in Jigawa state, sponsored by Senator Hussaini Babangida and Federal College of Education Special, Karaye in Kano State sponsored by Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila.
Senator Muntari Dandutse, therefore, urged the stakeholders to contribute meaningfully for the legislative process to serve the interest of Nigerians and serve as a significant step for the government to address the educational problems, standard and quality in Nigeria.
Contributing the sponsors Hussaini Babangida and Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila and senator Munir Ned Nwoko emphasized that these institutions would help immensely in boosting educational system in those areas and the technical.manpower needed to propel development.
However, Senator Babangida Hussaini argued that we can only achieve quality and standard in education if we have well qualified and trained teachers in the country,
He explained that, upgrading College.of education Gumel to Federal University would significantly improve teacher training to produce the required teachers needed to standardise the educational system in line with the best practices world wide
Some of the stakeholders expressed satisfaction with the initiatives and supported the establishment of the institutions in various places,
The Chairman Jigawa State Chapter of APC Alhaji Aminu Sani Gumel believed that the upgrading of the College to University status is highly commendable and would add value to educational system , reduce out of school children considering the fact that the university would now be at their door steps and reduce the level of illiteracy, especially in the North.
Similarly alhaji Ahmed Garba former lawmaker in jigawa state and commissioner, commended the efforts of president Bola Ahmad Tinubu in reforming the educational system in the country and expressed hope that after all the legislative.process the bill establishing the University of Education Gumel would see the light of the day, assuring state Government’s full support and cooperation.
Cov/ Bashir M
