BACKGROUND:
The legislative excellence and synergy of political influence that earned the establishment of Kabba College of Agric (DAC- ABU)
Kabba College of Agriculture (DAC) Ahmadu Bello University, Just like the four other sub-campuses across five provinces out of 13 in the old Northern Nigeria region was established as a matter of urgency and national development. Nigeria’s independence in 1960 marked a significant paradigm shift in the educational trajectory of the country. There had been only one university in the country at the time, the University of Ibadan, established in 1948.
The Ashby Commission, a British Colonial Government commission that studied Nigeria’s need for higher education in the 1950s however submitted a report, just before independence, that recommended major upscale and development in Nigeria’s university system. The report suggested establishing new universities in each of Nigeria’s three regions (Northern, Western, and Eastern) and Lagos being the Nation’s capital city at the time, the implementation of this report birthed the bill to establish the University of Northern Nigeria mid 1960’s and later the establishment of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Subsequently the “Northern Executive Council and Northern Region Legislators decided to establish five new sub-campuses across five provinces out of 13 in Northern Nigeria in addition to the existing acquired colleges.” – This sparked a competitive battle among provinces. H.E Chief S.A Ajayi (member house of assembly representing Kabba province) agitated with a compelling request for Kabba province to host one of the sub-campuses.
In the Chief Ajayi’s quest to get approval for and establishment of the College of Agriculture in Kabba, the legislator leveraged greatly on the background support of other significant Okun leaders from Yagba, and Ijumu districts and especially the Abinu, in terms of local requirements, the major drive was his good will and influence among fellow legislators, members of the executive council and his very cordial relationship with Sir Ahmadu Bello, the influential Premier of Northern Nigeria, to boost his proposal with a vote in favor of his Bill. This old fashioned legislative competency coupled with good harmonization of shared value, cause and political influence birthed the establishment of the College of Agriculture (DAC- ABU) Kabba. These strategic moves, networking, and shared commitment were grossly instrumental to the actualization of the college.
However, in a twist of event all other colleges of agriculture established along that of Kabba have been upgraded to a full fledged university.
THE STRUGGLE FOR ELEVATION TO A DEGREE AWARDING INSTITUTION AND THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY KABBA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
The Kabba College of Agriculture after several decades of service, human capital development, agro-economic advancement and gross contribution to nation building yet neglected by the Nigerian government. During a public hearing session organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on bills separately sponsored to that effect by Senators Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi West ) and Ayo Akinyelure (PDP Ondo Central). Senator Adeyemi noted that of all the Federal Colleges of Agriculture established across the country from 1960s to 1990s, only the one in Kabba, Kogi state still remained a college while the others have been upgraded to Universities. “Other Colleges of Agriculture established in Abeokuta , Akure, Makurdi and Umudike are now full-fledged Universities of Agriculture”
SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
1. Thursday 20th July, 2017
A public hearing was organized by the senate on a bill sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, chaired by Senator Barau Jibrin.
Speaking during the public hearing, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki said the institution when established would be known as Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba, Kogi State.
2. Tuesday 24th October, 2017
Senate’s proceeding: Report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND by Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) That the Senate does receive the reports of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on the following Bills:
Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba (Establishment, etc) Bill, 2017 (SB. 402);
3. Wednesday 25th November, 2020
A bill for the upgrade of Ahmadu Bello College of Agriculture, Kabba to a full-fledged specialized university passed second reading on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.
The bill sponsored by Senator representing Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi was presented for First reading, January 2020
4. Monday 22nd March, 2021
The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND organized a public hearing session on bills separately sponsored, seeking for an Act to establish Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba from the present College of Agriculture Kabba, Kogi state (DAC-ABU) and the one seeking for abolition and prohibition of discrimination between University first degree and Higher National Diploma degree holders in public service. To that effect by Senators Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi West) and Ayo Akinyelure (PDP Ondo Central).
5. Thursday 25th March, 2021
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the Bill for the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture in Kabba, Kogi State.
6. The Establishment Bill scaled through the third reading at the plenary of the House, this setting the stage for concurrence by the Senate.
“A joint committee is expected to be set up to enable both Chambers to harmonize any possible differences in the Bill as passed by them.”
The Bill was read for the third time and was unanimously passed by the lawmakers owing to efforts of Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf, Member representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu.
7. Thursday 14th April, 2022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ORDER PAPER (Presentation of report No2)
“Report of the Conference Committee Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba, (Establishment) Bill: Hon. Cook Olododo: “That the House do receive the Report of the Conference Committee on a Bill for an Act to Establish Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba to make Comprehensive Provisions for Its Due Management and Administration; and for Related Matter”
8. Thursday, 10th October, 2024
Sen. Sunday Steve Karimi (Kogi West) sponsored a “Bill for the Establishment of Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba (SB. 603).” The Bill was read for the First Time in the senate the Hallowed Chamber again.
9. Thursday, 21st November, 2024
Bill for the Establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba, Kogi State, and for Related Matters has passed its third reading in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by Hon. Arc Salman Idris, Member representing Kabba/Bunu/ Ijumu federal constituency.
Highlighted above are some of the significant appearances and engagements of both the Senate and the House of Reps on the bill to establish the federal university of agriculture Kabba, but yet futile, it will interest you to know that the bill for the establishment of this university as a matter of fact has appeared and discussed a total of 54 time on both the senate and house of representative chambers since 2017 till date.
THE BILL TO ESTABLISH THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE KABBA IN THE 7TH AND 8TH ASSEMBLY
According to a publication made on the 11 March 2021, by Hon. Tajudeen Ayo Yusuf, who represented Kabba/Bunu/ Ijumu federal constituency in the 7th, 8th and 9th assembly. He stated that,
– “After one year of concerted lobbying and consultation at the Presidency, National Assembly and relevant MDAs, a Committee set up by the National Universities Commission RECOMMENDED that:-
1.In consonance with the Transformation Agenda of the (then) President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, KABBA be approved as a CAMPUS of the newly established Federal University Lokoja;
2.The KABBA CAMPUS should run DEGREE programs (including AGRICULTURE) in FACULTY of ENGINEERING and FACULTY of ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES;
3.The REHABILITATION, RENOVATION and RETROFITTING of the College of Agriculture Kabba, as a FULL-FLEDGED CAMPUS of the newly established Federal University Lokoja.
It is pertinent to state that the Committee arrived at these Recommendations based on earlier precedents. For instance, the Federal University in Ekiti State (established at the same time as the one in Lokoja), is a DUAL CAMPUS institution.
Also, the Committee reasoned that having a CAMPUS in KABBA with the Faculty of ENGINEERING and Faculty of ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (which are NOT provided for by the Federal University Lokoja) will be brilliant, and strategic.
Further, the Committee reasoned that due to the paucity of funds required for the wholesale conversion of College of Agriculture Kabba to a degree awarding institution, its transmutation to a CAMPUS having two faculties and running over ten (10) degree programs including Agriculture) of the Federal University Lokoja will be a cost effective measure.
However, due to unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks and the fast-approaching 2015 general elections, these lofty recommendations and decisions by the National University Commission were NOT implemented by the (then) President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Sadly, the dogged and resilient agitation, lobbying and pursuit for the elevation of the status of College of Agriculture Kabba to a University (in this case, a strategic CAMPUS of a Federal University) which in about TWO YEARS, got the necessary recommendations, endorsement and approvals at and from every major MDA, became a victim of red-tapism.
At the 8th Assembly, with a new government, new administration and obviously new policy guidelines, programs and activities, leveraging on my cross-party goodwill and network within the House of Representatives, Senate, National Assembly and the Executive arm of government, I made concerted efforts with the intention of seeking the final approval of the NUC recommendation i.e. official pronouncement that the College of Agriculture Kabba is made CAMPUS of the Federal University Lokoja.
However, each and every effort to see to the materialization of this request was not successful.”
While Hon. Tajudeen was pushing for a different idea of making the College of Agric, Kabba an annex campus of the newly established Federal University Lokoja in the House of Reps. Chamber, on the other hand and with a different approach, ideology and goal (though was the original agitation), simultaneously there was another agenda for the Kabba college of Agriculture, Senator Dino Melaye introduced a Bill at the Senate Chamber as senator representing Kogi west, seeking the establishment of Federal University of Agriculture Kabba. A bill with a difference in nomenclature to what is being pushed for by his counterpart in the House of Representatives.
After the passage of the Bill by the Senate, it was sent to the House of Representatives for further legislative input and expected concurrence. It is worthy to state that, there are opinions and comments by many especially in the political class that Hon. Tajudeen (TEE JAY) did not support the bill at the House of Representative chamber, and he (Hon. Tajudeen) stated in his publication that –“ it is very necessary to state without equivocation amidst numerous veiled and direct comments and insinuations of lack of support and commitment to the passage of the Bill, that I (and other lawmakers from Kogi state) were not only involved but actively played a very frontal role in the passage of the Bill. This fact is very well known by many people including leaders, elders and major stakeholders from Okunland.
On February 8th, 2018, at plenary in the House of Representatives, the Bill was PASSED to the Committee of the Whole House. From available records, since 1999, very very few Bills enjoyed that type of pacy, swift and speedy attention given to the Federal University of Agriculture Establishment Bill by the House. Somehow, and painfully too, the final passage of the Bill was not realizable before the tenure of the 8th Assembly ended. This was not the fault of anybody. It was neither my fault nor that of Senator Dino Melaye (mover of the Bill in the 8th Assembly), or Hon. Sunday Karimi, Representative of Yagba Federal Constituency in the 8th Assembly.”
STAGES OF BILL PASSAGE IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
1. Gazetting of the Bill
2. First Reading
3. Second Reading
4. Public Hearing
5. Writing of Report
6. Laying of Report
7. Consideration of Report
8. Third Reading (Final stage)
9. Harmonization of both Chambers
10. Transmission to Mr. President for Assent
THE BILL AND ITS FAILURE IN THE 9th ASSEMBLY
In some excerpts from Hon. Teejay’s publication he noted again that – “Drawing enduring lessons from the experiences of the 7th and 8th Assembly, as well as leveraging on my knowledge of parliamentary rules and regulations, and legislative bureaucracy, I was able to RE-INTRODUCE the Bill (through a very good friend and colleague) that was initiated by Senator Dino Melaye in the 8th Assembly. Leveraging on legislative technicalities, the Bill, through MOTION, was re-introduced in the House of Representatives. By this, consideration for passage of the Bill continued from where it stopped in the 8th Assembly.
In doing this, the House of Representatives, in conformity with its rules and adherence to parliamentary ethos, successfully MOVED the RE-INTRODUCED Bill to the Committee of the Whole. With this accelerated consideration, the Bill DID NOT have to go through the rigors of the First and Second Readings, as well as Public Hearing.
The Bill had a very smooth passage to the Final Report Writing stage. As at this moment, the Report is COMPLETED, and READY for LAYING before the Committee of the Whole for CONSIDERATION and FINAL PASSAGE by the House of Representatives.
After the passage of the Bill at the Third Stage by the House of Representatives, this will lead to Harmonization with the Senate (that had earlier passed the Bill in the 8th Assembly). Thereafter, the approved/passed Bill by the National Assembly will be forwarded to Mr. President for ASSENT.”
Sadly enough, the bill was not forwarded for Presidential assent in the 9th assembly till the assembly’s tenure elapsed.
The legislative error was that, if the bill had been presented and pushed for with the same nomenclature and content and shared interest and goal by the two legislators at both the senate and Representative chamber, it would have been a win- win and win for all when the Senate passed the bill to the House of Representative for harmonization in the 8th Assembly. There was obviously a big gap of collaborative efforts and little or no synergy between the kogi west legislature at the senate and house of representative at this time. The unconsolidated fronts and legislative schism within kogi west lawmakers was and is greatly responsible for the setbacks.
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE 10TH ASSEMBLY; THE CALL FOR A UNITED FRONT, SYNERGY AND COLLECTIVE DEPOSIT OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE AND EXPERIENCE
Upon the assumption of office by legislative members representing Kogi west in the 10th assembly, there have been several appearance of the bill to establish the Federal University of Agriculture Kabba yet again on both the Senate and house of Representative Chambers, and already there have been efforts worthy of commendations and there have been legislative errors too.
Both chambers are treating this bill as a new bill being introduced to the house, unlike Hon. Tee Jay on the floor of the 9th Assembly, who RE-INTRODUCE the bill that was initiated by Senator Dino Melaye in the 8th Assembly. Leveraging on legislative technicalities, the Bill, through MOTION, was re-introduced in the House of Representatives. By this, consideration for passage of the Bill continued from where it stopped in the 8th Assembly.
However Kogi west Legislators in the 10th Assembly (Sen. Sunday Karimi and Hon. Arc. Salma Idris Member representing Kogi west senatorial district and Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal constituency respectively) seems to be starting the entire process afresh.
With historical analysis of past legislative endeavors and commitments to this bill, we might not get the desired result in the 10th assembly if due diligence, guidance and consultative meetings are not held with stakeholders of interest especially in the political class.
This is a clarion call to all Okun sons and daughters, political actors, legislative experts, academicians, masters of industries, political office holders past and present to come together in a submission, strategies, and draw a workable, realistic and transferable plan for the actualization of this noble cause. If the Federal University of Agriculture Kabba will be a reality, then all hands must be on deck and collaborative efforts, resource sharing and gross commitments to a collective goal by individuals, authorities and corporate entities are inevitable.
– NAYO Jude Babatunde – Uyi writes from Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria
nayojb2612@gmail.com
Bibliography:
Kogireports.com, Wikipedia.com, Hon. Teejay Yusuf
