Senator Adams Oshiomhole is worried about making new institutions and the impact on federal resources.
He expressed his views while discussing a bill to set up the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration and additional agencies.
The senator from Edo North stated that creating new institutions can affect the Federal Government’s resources for capital projects.
Upon returning, the Senate moved two education-related bills to the second reading stage.
The bills are called ‘A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration and other Matters Connected Therewith, 2024’ and ‘A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Manchok, Kaduna State and for other Matters Connected Therewith, 2024.’
Senator Suleiman Sadiq from Kwara North is leading the bill.
“This is not about additional costs to the government. This institute is already there.
“The bill is simply asking for the necessary legal backing,” he said.
The ex-governor of Edo State emphasized that setting up more institutions would raise the Federal Government’s recurrent expenditure.
He suggested that the bill's objectives could be met by existing departments within the Federal Ministry of Education or its affiliated agencies.
He said, “We need to be careful in creating more and more institutions because the Federal Government’s recurrent expenditure is so huge that very little is available for capital projects.
“We are aware of the widely-discussed Orosanye report. The Federal Government is trying to reduce and merge institutions.
“I am not able to understand why the Ministry of Education cannot create a department to handle all the issues this bill aims to address.
“Senator Sadiq is my very good friend and brother. I hope he will understand that this is not about him. I agree with the intention of the motion, but it can be managed within a relevant department if it doesn’t exist.
“There are so many institutions related to education, so many of them.
“The universities urgently need new investments in their infrastructure. I think these are things that should command our attention. How do we improve our universities’ resources?”
Likewise, Senator Barau Jibrin, the Deputy Senate President, shares Oshiomhole's perspective.
Jibrin noted, “We need to ensure that Nigeria becomes fully industrialized and modernized.
“To achieve this, we need to have science-oriented institutions. I support this bill, not only for the people of Manchok but also for the benefit of all of Nigeria.”
However, the bill passed the second reading when it was put to a voice vote by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.`
PUNCH Online reported in February that 12 years after it received the Stephen Oronsaye Report, the FG, had approved the implementation of some of its recommendations to reduce the cost of governance.
And just about 10 days later, the FG inaugurated formed a committee to carry out the report.
However, there has been little action or feedback observed since that time.
