AS HON.TAJUDEEN PUSHES FOR CONVERSION OF KADPOLY TO A UNIVERSITY

AS HON.TAJUDEEN PUSHES FOR CONVERSION OF KADPOLY TO A UNIVERSITY

                    By:

           Nurudeen Dauda

           March 5, 2018

nurudeendauda24@gmail. com

nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com

Permit me to commend Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, (APC) Representing Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State for sponsoring a bill seeking to convert Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna to Federal University of Technology, Kaduna.

In my view, the polytechnic deserves to be upgraded to the status of a university. I call on the three senators from Kaduna state and the 15 other Federal House of representatives members from the state to support Hon. Tajudeen in this move.

In the recent past, there were similar  unsuccessful efforts to convert KADPOLY and YABATECH to City Universities, by Senator Jibrin Barau(APC, Kano) and Senator Gbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos).

However, Senator Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano) is currently sponsoring a bill seeking to establish a Federal Polytechnic in Kano state. Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (APC, Sokoto) is also sponsoring a bill seeking to establish a Federal Polytechnic in Silame, Sokoto State.

In my observation, It is true that, we need more universities, polytechnics and colleges of education , In view of the fact that,  close to 2 million students sat for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations(UTME) on annual basis with which even if half of the same numbers were to get the required points, the admission carrying capacity of our institutions will hardly absorb them all .

Although sponsoring a bill to upgrate polytechnics or colleges of education to the status of universities or the establishment of new Federal Polytechnics is worth commending or praising , In my suggestion , our legislators in addition to sponsoring bills for more institutions and upgrading of some should "demand" for adequate funding of our existing higher institutions of learning. Our existing higher institutions of learning are grossly under funded. We need adequate funding of same.

Our legislators should not only stop at sponsoring bills for the establishment of new universities or Federal Polytechnics only , but should also insist on the provision of equipment, better working conditions and proper funding of our existing ones by the executive arms of government . 

In my humble advice, the legislators should always lobby or collaborate with the executive arms of government before sponsoring any bill that requires huge financial commitment from the executive, especially, during economic downturn. In my advice , the executive arms government should be responsible enough in considering any bill that will add value to the people. 

Upgrading of higher institutions of learning without fund is a serious problem. The Federal Executive Council ( FEC) under the immediate past government had once approved the upgrading of four Federal Colleges of Education to the status of universities of education . The colleges are : Adeyemi College of Education , Ondo ; Federal College of Education , Zaria ; Federal College of Education , Kano ; and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education , Owerri .

Upgrading Federal Colleges of education or Polytechnics to Universities require a lot of funds for the recruitment of both additional human and material resources. If a government just approves an upgrade of higher institutions without providing fund their take up, In my view, is just a mere politics without responsibility.

President Buhari's Administration upon its assumption of office has set aside the decision of FEC to upgrade some colleges of education to Universities under the immediate past administration due to lack funds which were supposed to have been set aside by the outgone administration, but were not . 

The argument given by the present government is that ,the past administration should not just have made the announcement without providing funds for its implementation. Political leaders should avoid playing politics with upgrading of polytechnics and colleges of education to universities.

In my submission, our Political leaders at all levels should commit more resources to the funding of our institutions. Our legislators should pay serious attention to the oversight functions of our higher institutions of learning for better results . 

In my suggestion, our legislators should make a law that will compel all corporate bodies residing within the universities' environment to be contributing certain percentage of annual profits to the funding of the university system. Our corporate bodies should do more in the areas of sponsoring researches that will add value to the economy. 

In addition, Alumni Association should be brought on board in order to contribute their own quotas towards the funding of our universities.

May God bless Nigeria!