Niger State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the Bill for an Act to establish Federal University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Bida, Niger State.
The Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Barr. Abdullahi Bawa Wuse stated this in Minna when the State Lawmakers hosted the Member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi. SMA(Gorozon Nupe) that was on a visit in furtherance to his stakeholders’ engagement on the Bill.
The Speaker said he was “delighted with the Lawmaker for understanding the need for institutional collaborations which is healthy to the progress of the State”.
According to Bawa Wuse, “we will go out as a State to get this University established here. Having University to run Medicine and related Courses in Niger State is long overdue”.
Addressing the State House of Assembly, Hon. Saidu said “the University. When established, will provide more opportunities and fair chance for Nigerians seeking to pursue a career in the medical sciences and most importantly address medical workforce shortfall in the country. It is a pan Nigerian project but more Niger State”.
“Today, the number of Nigerian Students seeking admission to study medicine in particular and health sciences in general is on the increase but unfortunately, a significant percentage of them usually fail in getting admission not because they do not possess the required qualification but because those tertiary institutions do not have the capacity to accommodate them.
“It may interest you to know that Niger State is the only State in the North-Central Nigeria that has no degree awarding institutions in medicine and health sciences neither at Private nor public arrangement levels”.
Members from Gbako, Bida II, Suleja, Agwara and Chanchaga, all contributed brilliantly in support of the Bill.
After various contributions from the Lawmakers in favour of the Bill, the Speaker, Hon. Abdullahi Bawa Wuse constituted a Committee Chaired by the Member representing Agwara with a clear time of reference to prepare a position paper that will be presented at the Public Hearing in support of the bill.
The Speaker also said the 27 House of Assembly Members of Niger State will attend the Public Hearing.
Member representing Chanchaga, Hon. Ahmed Marafa Guni pledged to foot the bill for the transportation of all the Members of the State Assembly to and from to the Public Hearing.
