The Senate on Thursday passed bills seeking to establish the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Funtua, Katsina State, and federal universities of technology in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, and Babura, Jigawa State.
The passage followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund.
The committee’s chairman, Muntari Dandutse (APC-Katsina South), who sponsored the bill for the establishment of the medical university in Funtua, said the committee recommended its passage after considering stakeholders’ submissions and examining its provisions.
He said the institution would expand access to education and address the growing demand for knowledge and skills needed for Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
The bills seeking to establish the universities of technology aim to amend the Federal Universities of Technology Act to provide legal backing for the institutions and establish provisions for their administration.
After considering the committee’s report in the Committee of the Whole, the Senate adopted its recommendations and passed the bills at third reading.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the committee and other senators for their contributions to the legislative process.
He said the legislation would provide the necessary legal framework for the institutions, noting that some had already commenced operations but required enabling laws to strengthen their status.
Mr Akpabio added that the institutions could expand access to higher education for Nigerians and attract students from other African countries and beyond.
