Press Release
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter acknowledges the facilitation of the creation of Four brand new Federal High institutions of learning to Zaria town, Zone, 1 Kaduna state, by the Speaker, House of Representative, Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas.
Such a development, though a positive one, falls short of our commendation and praise because it is insensitive and inconsiderate of other zones, especially the Middle Belt Area of Kadu State (Southern Kaduna).
The media is awash with news of their groundbreaking ceremony last Sunday (15/12/2024) in Zaria where Speaker Abbas announced that N80 billion Naira has been allocated for the construction of the schools which are expected to be completed within 18 months.
The schools are:
(1) Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery;
(2) Federal College of Education,
(3) Federal Open University and
(4) Federal College of Legal Studies.
This is outside the existence of the following Federal educational institution in the Zaria town:
(1) Ahmadu Bello University (ABU).
(2) Federal College of Education (FCoE).
(3) Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology.
(4) Nigerian Leather Research Institute.
(5) Nigeria College of Aviation Technology.
(6) Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC).
(7) Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR).
(8) National Research Institute for Chemical Technology.
(9) National Animal Production Research Institute.
(10) National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services.
(11) Nigerian Army School of Military Police.
(12) Nigeria Army School of Legal Services.
These are outside Kaduna State’s owned:
(1) Ameer Shehu Idris College of Advanced Studies.
(2) Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic.
There are now 15 Federal high learning institutions in just one town in Kaduna state – Zaria.
And when it comes to Zone 2, with Kaduna town as its fulcrum, there are no less than 10 Federal Institutions of learning.
Yet, Southern Kaduna, which is made up of 12 LGAs strandling parts of Zone 2 and the entire Zone 3 – where most of the educated and skilled manpower of the state is derived from, has only one Federal Institution: Federal School of Statistics, Manchok.
Just one! for an area that occupies 57% of the landmass of Kaduna state and holds 52.1% of its population.
This is in exclusion of the Nigeria Army and Naval Training Schools in Kachia that’s basically for combatant soldiers.
This statement is to call the attention of all Nigerians, the National Assembly and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the prohibitive favouritism that a tiny section of Kaduna state is enjoying over the majority and to insist that Southern Kaduna should be fairly treated.
How Speaker Abbas was able to corner Four Federal Institutions to Zaria, complete with a budget of N82 billion within 19 months of office is certainly mysterious to us.
This is because we have never heard of any of these bills that ought to have eventually produced these schools being presented at any plenary of either the red or green chambers.
We have certainly not seen any invitation to a Public Hearing on them.
Unlike the Bill for the Establishment of University of Applied Sciences, Manchok, Kaura LGA in Southern Kaduna, sponsored by Sen. Sunday Marshall Katung (representing Kaduna South Senatorial Zone). His Bill has been of intense public view at the NASS plenary sessions, for which a Public Hearing was convened.
We therefore do not know if there are waivers for certain class of Federal Legislators when they propose the same Bills.
And isn’t it curious that a single city, already inundated with Federal Schools should again be granted Four more at a go and no one is asking questions?
Speaker Abbas should be reminded that as the Speaker, House of Representative, his constituency has expanded beyond Zaria town to include the entire country, especially Kaduna state where he comes from.
He therefore, should be bound by conscience and refined politics to use his office and spread development across Kaduna state if he must stand out as a progressive politician and Statesman.
Finally, this development should be instructive to Southern Kaduna, where the majority of our people are still wrongfully suffering from the minority complex and have refused to take the advantage of their numerical strength and push for power in the state.
As long as we insist on playing the second fiddle in Kaduna State at every general election by disaggregating our votes against our own, we shall forever be at the receiving end of those in power.
Signed:
Luka Binniyat
Chairman, MBF, Kaduna State Chapter.
(22/12/2024)
