A bill seeking to establish Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages has been introduced at the Nigeria’s House of Representatives
The bill had already scaled the first reading at the lower chamber of the national assembly last week.
When passed into law, the legislation will add to the increasing pool of existing universities in the country.
Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and eight of his colleagues, the bill is aimed at establishing a university to promote the learning of Nigerian languages and culture.
Section II part I of the bill provides that the university when established shall, “Encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction, the opportunity of acquiring a higher education in Nigerian languages and cultures.”
In addition, it also aims to “Develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research and higher degrees with emphasis on planning, adaptive, developmental and productive skills in the field of Nigerian languages and cultures.
This is aimed at “Producing socially mature persons with the capacity to communicate, understand and use Nigerian languages for national development.”
When it comes to fruition, the institution would also “Act as agents and catalysts, through postgraduate training, research and innovation for the effective and economic utilisation, exploitation and conservation of Nigeria’s natural, economic and human resources.
“Establish appropriate relationships with other national institutions involved in training, research and development of Nigerian languages and cultures.
“Provide and promote sound basic training as a foundation for the development of Nigerian languages as well promote and emphasise teaching and research activities around Nigerian languages, including outreach programmes, in-service training, continuing education, and adaptive research,” among others.
Section 1(2) of the bill detailed the university’s mandate, which includes, “To teach and train high calibre Nigerian languages professionals.
“Provide Nigerian language services and consultancy.
“Conduct research and participate in outreach and community services and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and skills in different Nigerian languages.”
Section 14 (2) also proposes that the President, who is the visitor to the university, is required to “As often as the circumstances may require, not being less than once every five years, conduct a visitation of the university or direct that such a visitation be conducted by such person or persons as the visitor may deem fit and in respect of any of the affairs of the university.”
In sub-section 3, it’s stated that “It shall be the duty of the bodies and persons comprising the university to make available to the visitor and to any other person conducting a visitation in pursuance of this section, such facilities and assistance as he or they may reasonably require for the purposes of a visitation.”
The bill also vested in the Visitor (President) the powers to remove from office council members apart from the pro-chancellor and vice-chancellor of the university.
“If it appears to the council that a member of the council (other than the pro-chancellor or the vice-chancellor) should be removed from office on the ground of misconduct or inability to perform the functions of his office or employment, the council shall make a recommendation to that effect through the Minister to the President after making such enquiry, if any, as may be considered appropriate.
“If the President approves the recommendation, he may direct the removal of the person in question from office,” read Section 15 (1).
The bill is expected to be listed for a second reading in the coming weeks in preparation for a public hearing to obtain stakeholders’ inputs.
The proposed creation, however has ignited outrage and frustration among citizens in the country.
Many questioned the timing and relevance of such a project given the current state of Nigeria’s educational sector
Some pointed out the ongoing challenges faced by existing universities, which often suffer from strikes due to poor funding and inadequate resources.
The bill also raised concerns over the propriety of naming a federal institution after President Tinubu, who has only been in office for 18 months.
