The speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen at the weekend asked Nigerians to inform the federal lawmakers, particularly the House of Representatives what they expect from the 2025 budget to be presented to the National Assembly on Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu.
The Speaker spoke at a meeting with members of the Zaria Educational Development Association in Zaria.
He also said that the ancient city will soon benefit from the establishment of four additional federal institutions, in addition to existing ones.
The Speaker, who was in Zaria to inspect ongoing constituency projects initiated by him, lay the foundation of some and commission already completed constituency projects said a new Federal College federal College of Education will soon take off in the area after the conversion of the existing one to a Federal University of Education.
The other institutions to be established in Zaria include a state-of-the-art College of Health Sciences, a campus of the National Open University and a College of Legal Studies.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to present the 2025 appropriation bill to a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Although he did not give any detail on the budget, he asked his constituents to share their needs and priorities with them saying “this is the time to let us know what you require, particularly now that the budget is on its way. We are ready to intervene and assist where we can.”
The Speaker said the four new institutions will not only enhance Zaria’s educational infrastructure, but provide critical resources for the region, adding that in addition to the institutions, about 116 primary and post primary schools were currently undergoing renovations with plans for further upgrade.
He said “this is an opportunity to tell us what you require, particularly now that we are coming to the end of the year. Budget is on its way. This is the time when we plan for the next one year, and this is the very best time for you, if you have other competing needs that you require that you can reach out to me, to inform me what you want me to do for Zaria.
“Tomorrow will be a day of history for Zaria, as far as education is concerned. It’s not just a day that Zaria will do the prayer ceremony of its Central Mosque, which has been standing for more than 170 years, it will be a day that we are also doing a groundbreaking ceremony for four institutions that I’m bringing to Zaria.
“These schools include a Federal College of Education, because we have succeeded in upgrading the current College of Education to a university. We are very happy to have another Federal College of Education. Tomorrow, we will do the groundbreaking to officially commence the construction of the Federal College of Education.
“We have just a period of 18 months to complete the project. Based on inquiry, we also realize that Zaria requires more nurses, more midwifery because there is terrible shortage. The available slots that our children are getting from ABU is next to nothing. So, we feel that there should be another institution that should help to generate middle-level health workers, particularly nurses and midwives in Zaria.
“In fact, our next one in Zaria will be a fantastic one for the whole northwestern region of this great country. So, I would like to inform you that we will also do a groundbreaking ceremony to commence the construction of the state-of-the-art College of Health Sciences in Zaria as well.
“Again, looking at the number of civil servants in Zaria, yearning to improve their knowledge, but cannot fit into the conventional system, We feel that a campus of the National Open University is desirable for our people here and so, we will also be doing the groundbreaking ceremony of building a state-of-the-art National Open University Campus in Zaria as well as a College of Legal Studies.
“Zaria is not known for commerce. We are not known for industry, but we are known for education. So, if there is any place in Nigeria where you need to improve, to put more structure for your education, it is Zaria. We are concerned that these four legacy projects will come to Zaria in 2025 and 2026”.
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