Members of the House of Representatives were divided on Thursday over a move to place an embargo on the introduction and passage of bills seeking to establish more universities in Nigeria.
The move suffered a setback, forcing the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, to tell the lawmakers to bring “as many as possible.”
While some lawmakers decried the proliferation of universities, others blamed proposals for the establishment of higher academic institutions on the pressure being mounted by constituents.
According to Gbajabiamila, it has become necessary to check the proliferation of universities, especially now when the Federal Government can’t adequately fund the existing ones.
The Speaker disclosed how university lecturers urged the National Assembly to curb the proliferation of universities in the country when the leadership of the House met with stakeholders on Tuesday over the lingering crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government.
Gbajabiamila noted that restrictions would be placed on varsity establishment in the ongoing amendments to the National Universities Commission Act.
However, the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, pointed out that the proposals were for political reasons.
The division was recorded when the lawmakers were to consider for second reading, a legislation titled, “A Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of Federal University of Transportation, Daura, Katsina State.”
Contact: theeditor[at]punchng.com
