Lawmakers push for 32 new federal varsities… 

No fewer than 32 bills have been tabled before the Senate and the House of Representatives for the creation of new universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities and other experts, however, warned the government against the establishment of new institutions while failing to fund the existing ones.

It reports that Nigeria has a total of 52 federal universities. The official data from the National Universities Commission also revealed that the country has 63 state universities and 147 private universities.

The National Board for Technical Education also puts the number of Federal Polytechnics at 40; state-owned at 49 and private at 76. There are 70 federal and state-owned colleges of health; while the number of private colleges of health is 17.

Also, the National Commission for Colleges of Education put the number of colleges of education in Nigeria at 219.

Analysis of the bills revealed that the Speaker of the House of Representatives led the pack. The Speaker pushed for the establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Kaduna, which had its first reading on July 6, 2023. Similarly, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, pushed for the establishment of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende in Abia State.

There are also bills seeking the establishment of the Federal University of Information and Communications Technology, Lagos Island; Federal University of Agriculture, Ute Okpa in Delta State; Federal University of Biomedical Sciences in Benue State; Federal College of Health Sciences, Gaya; Federal College of Dental Technology, Faggae; Federal College of Agriculture, Agila, Benue State; Federal College of Education, Dangi-Kanam, Plateau State; Federal College of Education, Bende, Abia State.

There is also Benjamin Kalu Federal Polytechnic, Rano, Kano State; Federal Polytechnic, Shendam, Plateau State, among others.