The Senate has shelved a bill seeking to relocate the Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa State to Nasarawa Eggon after Senate President Godswill Akpabio advised its sponsor to seek the establishment of a new institution instead.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Envulu-Anza Danladi, who represents Nasarawa North, sought to amend the Federal Polytechnics Act to move the institution from Nasarawa West to Nasarawa Eggon in Nasarawa North.
However, Akpabio said the proposed relocation could not proceed in its current form because the existing polytechnic had already been upgraded to a university.
Presenting the bill, Danladi said the upgrade had left Nasarawa North without a federal tertiary institution, creating a need for another federal institution to serve the area.
“The Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa West senatorial district has been upgraded to university status, and my bill is to urge this hallowed chamber to relocate the upgraded polytechnic to Nasarawa Eggon in Nasarawa North,” he said.
“Nasarawa North currently has no federal institution of higher learning, and the proposed relocation is intended to address this gap and improve access to tertiary education for our people,” Danladi said.
Responding, Akpabio said relocating the institution under the proposed amendment could mean moving the university to Nasarawa Eggon, a step that could face resistance from its host community.
“Your bill cannot go for second reading because you are talking about relocation. It has already been upgraded to university status, so if you relocate it, you are relocating the university, and the whole community will not be happy,” the Senate President said.
He advised Danladi to allow the upgraded institution to remain at its present location and introduce a fresh bill seeking the establishment of a new federal polytechnic in Nasarawa Eggon.
He expressed confidence that the Senate would support the proposal.
Senate drops bill to relocate Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa