At least 63 bills have been proposed before the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives for the creation of new universities, polytechnics, colleges of education
Twenty-six of the bills are for federal universities; 33 bills for federal colleges of education; agriculture; health; technology; and forestry among other specialised colleges.
Nigeria has a total of 49 federal universities. The official data from the National Universities Commission also revealed that the country has 59 state universities and 111 private universities.
The Bill is coming amid outcry of poor funding of the educational sector and an industrial action by university lecturers that is in its fifth month.
Currently, the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other bodies like the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions are all on strike to compel the Nigerian government to revitalise the country’s educational system.
