By Mike Odeh James, The Nigeria Times
Kaduna, Nigeria – The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter, has voiced its thoughts on the recent allocation of four new federal institutions to Zaria town in Kaduna State, facilitated by Speaker Tajuddeen Abbas. The institutions include the Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Federal College of Education, Federal Open University, and Federal College of Legal Studies.
While the MBF appreciates the development and the growth it brings, they have raised concerns about the need for a more balanced distribution of federal resources across various regions of the state. Zaria already hosts 15 federal learning institutions, whereas Southern Kaduna, which comprises 57% of the landmass and 52.1% of the population, currently has only one federal institution.
The forum emphasizes the importance of transparency in government spending, as they question how Speaker Abbas could allocate N82 billion for the new institutions within 19 months without public engagement. They urge the National Assembly and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the needs of all areas are considered and addressed in educational development initiatives.
“We support development in every part of Kaduna State, but we believe it should be equitable and considerate of the population and needs of various regions,” said Luka Binniyat, Chairman of the MBF, Kaduna State Chapter. “It is crucial that we maintain a balanced approach to resource allocation to promote fairness and inclusivity.”
The MBF acknowledges the several institutions already established in Zaria, which include prestigious ones such as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology but stresses the need for additional federal institutions in underrepresented areas like Southern Kaduna, which currently houses only the Federal School of Statistics in Manchok.
In conclusion, the MBF calls on the federal government to review the distribution of federal institutions and resources to foster equitable development across Kaduna State. They encourage the people of Southern Kaduna to unite and advocate for fair representation and resource allocation in governance.
