Manchok’s Federal University Establishment Bill Scales Second Senate Reading

The Nigerian Senate has passed, for a second reading, a bill to establish the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Manchok, Kaduna State.

The bill which sought to establish the legal framework work for the university was sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung (PDP-Kaduna).

Senator Katung, in his lead debate said the bill was read for the first time on July 27, 2023.

He said the bill seeks to establish the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Manchok and make comprehensive provisions for its due administration.

“My distinguished colleagues science has been an integral part of mankind and existence from time immemorial.

“The knowledge that science gives us is what we classify as “Basic Science’’ whilst the application of this knowledge for practical purposes is called “applied sciences’’. 

Senator Katung said the bill was designed to provide a highly specialised institution of learning that would provide a holistic view of science as a broad area and how elements of different applied sciences work with each other.

According to him, the objectives of the university amongst others is to provide courses of instruction and training and research in applied sciences.

He said the school also has the objectives of producing technicians and skilled personnel required for related industries.

Senator Katung said the skilled personnel would act as agents and catalyst through post-graduate training, research and innovation for effective and economic utilisation, exploitation and conservation of Nigeria’s natural, economic and human resources.

He also said the trained skilled personnel from school would identify technological problems and needs of the society and find solutions to them within the context of overall national development.

According to him, the institution will also provide and promote sound basic scientific training as a foundation for development of technology and applied sciences.

He said the potential of the Nigerian economy was very high and to achieve the potentials, high-level technical and scientific expertise was needed.

Also Read: Senate Passes Bill to Establish Agric Institutes in Kaduna, Enugu

“The establishment of the university proposed in the instant bill will advance knowledge through research and nurturing of unique innovations in applied sciences by the transformation of the scientific knowledge of Nigerian graduates. 

“This will in turn stimulate Nigeria’s technological advancements.”

He said the proposed university of applied sciences, although located on an existing Institution, would attract some financial implications for its operational and physical structures necessary for smooth take-off at the existing Federal College of Statistics, Manchok in Kaduna state.

He urged lawmakers to support the bill for second reading.

The bill, which received support of lawmakers was referred to committee on education for further legislative inputs by President of Senate, Godswill Akpiabio and to return back to plenary in three weeks.

Similarly, Senate at plenary also passed for second reading, a bill to establish the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Suleiman Sadiq (APC-Kwara) was referred to committee on Education for further legislative inputs and report back in two weeks.

Also passed for second reading in Senate were two House of Representatives bills for conference of Senate.The bills include:  A Bill to repeal the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

The bill, seeks to grant the commission enforcement powers in the monitoring of accruals and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account in line with 1999 constitution.

The second bill for concurrence is a bill for an act to repeal the Fire Service Act and enact the Federal Fire and Rescue Services establishment bill.

Both bills, sponsored by Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) were referred to committees on National Planning and Interior for clause-by-clause consideration before final conference of Senate.