A two- day public hearing on four bills on the education sector began on Monday in Abuja.
The public hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary institutions and Tetfund, to enrich the bills through inputs from concerned stakeholders in the sector.
The bills are: A Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Discrimination Between First Degree and Higher National Diploma ( HND). for the purpose of employment in Nigeria.
A Bill for an Act to Establish University of Agriculture,Kabba,Kogi State, A Bill for an Act to Establish the Steel University,Ajaokuta and Other Matters Connected and A Bill for for an Act to Establish the Federal University of Education,Ankpa to take over assets and liabilities including staff of Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa.
Speaking at the hearing,the Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary institutions and Tetfund,Sen. Ahmed Kaita ( APC Katsina) said the Senate is committed through legislation to salvage educational institutions in the country.
Kaita said it was the collective desire and shared Legislative values in the Senate to make education sector vibrant through proactive legislations in a bid to make education more robust, affordable and accessible.
He told participants that the commitee did not receive any opposing memorandum on the bill for an act to abolish and prohibit discrimination between first decree and higher national diploma holders..
He assured that the Senate would do its best to ensure passage of the bill which he noted had come a long way.
The Sponsor of bill for an Act to Establish University of Agriculture Kabba, Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi) said the public hearing was to articulate the need to upgrade the Kabba College of Agriculture to a full- fleged University
He argued that there was the need to diversify the economy demands by paying attention towards the development of the agricultural sector.
He pointed out that it was” not out of place for Nigeria to have at least two federal university of agriculture in each of the geo- poltical zones of the federation
” This will help to improve our foreign exchange earnings and provide jobs for millions of Nigerian youths as Agriculture remains our hope for a robist economy,job creation and wealth generation.”
Adeyemi said the college of Agriculture campus of Kabba has facilities which are currently under- utilized adding” that when upgraded to a full- fleged University, the byproduct would be a new generation of farmers that would guarantee self sufficiency in food, reduced rate of poverty and provide self employed graduates.”
