Bills to establish 47 varsities, FMCs scale second reading
The number of federally-owned universities in Nigeria may hit 99 in the coming months as a bill to establish 47 new ones has scaled through a second reading.
This is just as about 56 bills have passed for a second reading to establish Federal Medical Centres in different parts of the country.
The PUNCH reports that currently, there are 52 federal universities in Nigeria, with some states of the federation hosting more than one.
The House is also considering various bills to establish about 32 Federal Colleges of Education, 11 Federal Colleges of Agriculture and Five Federal Polytechnics in addition to the already existing institutions.
In addition to the 52 Federal Universities, there are 22 Federal Medical Centres, 27 Federal Colleges of Education, and 40 Polytechnics in Nigeria.
Some of the bills were either passed in the 9th Assembly but did not get the required concurrence at the Senate to scale through or were not signed by the President.
When established, some of the institutions will include Universities of Science and Technology, Agriculture, Aviation, Medicals, and Engineering, among others.
The House findings revealed it is also considering various bills to establish Colleges of Vocational and Skill Acquisition, Cancer Research and Entrepreneurship.
A study of the House order paper listing the institutions and other bills under consideration revealed that Lagos State for example has requested for the establishment of three new Federal Medical Centres in addition to the already existing one.
Recall that Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen While addressing members of the House on December 30, 2023, noted that the Green Chamber received and considered 962 bills, 500 motions, and 153 petitions in six months.
According to the member representing Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, out of the number of bills, 120 have scaled through Second Reading and are undergoing review for further legislative actions.
