Lagos assembly passes for 2nd reading bill on Education, Science & Technology varsities

The Lagos House of Assembly Monday debated the two bills that proposed the establishment of University of Education and that of Science and Technology in the state.

The bills, which scaled through second reading, Thursday, were committed into the House Committee on Education (tertiary), which was asked to report back to the house in two weeks.

The debates of the bills were coordinated by the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa.

While debating the bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the University of Education, Lagos (UNEDLAG) at plenary, Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1) said it was important that there should be pre-degree programmes, which will absorb candidates seeking admission.

He stated that there was a provision in the bill that will make the university to be self independent. “The inclusion of vocational training will also make the students to be self employed,” he added.

In his contributions, Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2) who agreed with his colleagues on the need to upgrade the two colleges of education in the state to a university said NCE is no longer popular, adding that the establishment of the university is timely.

He said, “I will like to mention that this bill should not be looked into in isolation, but should apply the law that established LASU into it. There is need to have a template to form the institution in order to avoid overlap.”

Majority leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1), who expressed optimism about the university, told his colleagues that he was a product of ACCOED and that afterwards, he taught for five years.

He said, “The creation of a new varsity is a good thing. This bill takes care of the welfare of both lecturers and students”, he added.

Abiodun Tobun (Epe 2) added that it was one of the good things that government could do for Lagosians. If this bill is passed into law, the university will produce good teachers.