Federal University of Education, Gumel Bill Passes Second Reading in Senate
Senator Uba Defends Bill, Says It Will Address Teacher Shortage and Boost Youth Employment
IBY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Nigerian Senate has passed the second reading of a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Education, Gumel in Jigawa State by upgrading the existing Jigawa State College of Education, Gumel.
The proposed legislation, titled Federal University of Education Gumel (Establishment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 239), was sponsored by Senator Hussaini Babangida Uba (Jigawa North West) and received widespread support on the Senate floor during Tuesday’s plenary.
Leading the debate, Senator Uba highlighted the critical need for a specialized institution that would focus on producing highly qualified teachers to meet the demands of Nigeria’s growing education sector.
“For over 35 years, this institution has been training teachers,” Senator Uba said. “It is time we give it the federal support and structure it deserves to scale its impact nationally.”
Senator Uba assured the Senate that the proposed upgrade would not create a financial burden on the federal government. The Jigawa State Government has agreed to hand over the existing college and its facilities to the Federal Government, ensuring a cost-effective transition into a federal university.
“This is a strategic move. No new capital investment is required. We are simply building on existing infrastructure to create long-term national value,” he said.
Following the plenary, Senator Uba spoke with journalists and addressed public concerns regarding the proliferation of universities and the fear that it may dilute educational quality.
“We must stop seeing expansion as a problem. Every institution we build is an opportunity for education, employment, innovation. The issue isn’t quantity. It’s quality, and that’s a regulatory issue,” he said.
The senator advocated for stronger monitoring and evaluation frameworks, calling on agencies like the National Universities Commission (NUC) to be more proactive in quality assurance.
“We have institutions like Educational Resource Centres that can ensure curriculum standards, staff qualifications, and inspection routines. If properly managed, universities can fund themselves and deliver quality.”
Senator Uba stressed that Nigeria has consistently fallen short of global teacher-student ratio benchmarks, making teacher training institutions even more essential.
“Teachers are the most critical element in the school system after the student. And we don’t have enough. That’s a fact. This university will help close that gap,” he noted.
He also cited global educational goals related to access, equity, and quality, arguing that these cannot be achieved without expanding the country’s institutional capacity.
The proposed university will offer academic and professional programs across a wide range of disciplines including education, science, technology, agriculture, social sciences, humanities, and management. It will also serve as a hub for postgraduate training, research, innovation, and leadership development.
Now that the bill has passed second reading, it has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund for further legislative work. If approved by the committee, the bill will return for a third reading and final passage.
“This is a bill driven by need, not politics,” Senator Uba concluded. “Our youth deserve more opportunities, and this university is a step in the right direction.”
The bill is expected to continue gaining momentum as lawmakers prioritize educational reform and youth empowerment across the country.
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