Analysis Report of a Bill for An Act to Establish the Federal University of Technology, Maijujuas to make Comprehensive Provisions for the Management and Administration of the University; and for Related Matters

Abstract

Education is universally recognized as a critical driver of development and prosperity in any country, and Nigeria is no different. Globe the sector plays a vital role in making available the required balance in the form of skilled labour force, inculcation of acceptable societal norms, and emerging techniques and methodologies that are needed for the nation to survive. However, the supply of higher education opportunities has not kept pace with the increasing demand. According to data from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) having an admission rate of 47% despite a pass rate of 80% shows a unit decimal performance in the current capacity to admit the students. This disparity leaves many prospective students excluded from higher education, particularly in specialized and critical fields. While the number of students who register for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination has continued to increase, available admission capacity in HEIs has not increased commensurately. As a result, several aspiring tertiary students are structurally excluded from higher education, including in specialized and important fields. One of the viable options to address this problem is to establish new universities to cater for the low-rate intake for qualified applicant. This is the focus of this Bill. The proposed Bill seeks to address this challenge by establishing the Federal University of Technology, Maijujuas, Kaduna State. The university aims to foster technological advancement, knowledge transfer, and skill development in science, engineering, and related fields. This institution would contribute to creating a technologically driven economy by developing a skilled workforce. The analysis report is structured as follows: Sections 1 and 2 present the objectives and summary of the Bill respectively. Section 3 provides the background to the Bill with a relationship to existing laws, while Section 4 provides for comments on key provisions of the Bill and the arguments for and against the Bill. Sections 5 and 6 of the Bill present recommendations and the report's conclusion respectively.