Senate passes bill to make ASCETA Federal govt owned institution

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The Senate on Wednesday the 28th of November, 2018, passed the Bill for an Act to establish The Federal College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, Abia State.

The bill was sponsored by the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial Zone in the upper legislative chambers, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa. 

The Senate also approved the establishment of nine other new higher institutions across the country.

The resolution was made after the Federal lawmakers adopted the report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund.

The committee’s chairman, Senator Jibrin Barau, presented the report for consideration.

The 10 new higher institutions approved by the Senate include one polytechnic to be located in the hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari, Daura in Katsina State.

The Federal lawmakers agreed that the establishment of the institutions would open up the education space in the country.

They also expressed the belief that the step would assist the country to fight illiteracy.

The Senate also said that the approval of the establishment of the institutions was in line with the policy to establish polytechnics across the states.

The approved institutions include Federal Polytechnic, Kabo; Federal Polytechnic Daura; Federal University of Education, Aguleri, Anambra State; National Institute of Construction Technology and Management and Federal Polytechnic, Ikom, Cross River State.

Others are Federal College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu, Abia State; Federal Polytechnic Langtang, Plateau State; Federal College of Education, Usugbenu-Irua, Edo State; Federal University of Technology, Manchok and Federal Polytechnic Kwale, Delta State.

The bill now awaits Presidential assent.

The Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu, was established in 1993. It had as pioneer Provost, Prof. Ernest Nkemakolam (now late) whose tenure recorded growth and high student enrollment. At the end of his tenure, Dr. C.N Nwamuo was appointed as Provost of the institution. His poor handling of affairs of the school almost led to its relocation from Arochukwu with incessant strikes and allegations of nepotism, the order of the day. He was eventually replaced by Prof. Nnennaya Kanno.

A former Commissioner of Finance in Abia State, Dr. Philip Nto, was appointed by the Abia State government to replace Prof. Kanno. The college has not faired any better since Nto’s coming.

Recently, students of the institution embarked on a solidarity strike with their lecturers to protest non-payment of salaries and allowances to both academic and non-academic staff. It is alleged that staff of the institution are owed salaries in excess of 14 months.

It is envisaged that when the Federal government finally takes over the college, its fortune would improve, through better funding.

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