Bill For Federal University Ilaro Passes Second Reading

The bill seeking for the upgrade of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, into a Federal University of Technology, has passed Second Reading in the Senate and committed to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institution for further legislative action.

The same bill was sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola, Chairman of Senate Committee on Finance in the 8^th Senate but could not move past the first reading stage before the expiration of that Senate. The bill is now sponsored by Senator Adeola with Senator Tolu Odebiyi as co-sponsor. 

Leading the debate for the second reading, Senator Adeola said the imperative for the establishment of the university is informed mostly by the expansion and development of the Polytechnic established some 38 years ago with ample latitude for massive expansion in terms of space and the fact of the institution being located in a semi urban cum rural setting of Ilaro. 

“It is worthy of note that the Polytechnic has many infrastructural facilities, which many State owned and privately owned universities cannot boast of. Ironically those State and newly established Federal universities have today been granted National University Commission Accreditation and are running courses as full-fledged universities” he argued.

The second reading of the bill, which was not opposed by any Senator, was supported by Senator Odebiyi and Senator Bamidele Opeyemi (Ekiti Central). 

After a proposed public hearing on the bill, it will be returned to the Senate for third reading and final passage as an Act.