Dogara underscores need to reposition tertiary education

House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara says there is the need to amend the existing laws to reposition tertiary education in the country.

Dogara said this on Wednesday in Abuja while declaring open a public hearing on three bills referred to the House Committee on Tertiary Education.

They are a Bill to Provide Easy Access to Higher Education for Nigerians through Interest-free Loans from the Nigeria Education Bank and a Bill to Establish Tertiary Education Fund.

The third one is a Bill to Include Colleges of Agriculture in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and Education Tax Act.

Represented by Deputy Majority Whip of the House, Rep. Pally Iriase, Dogara said that Nigerian youths should be fully empowered to take up the mantle of responsibilities adequately, without limitations.

According to him, tertiary education in Nigeria has encountered serious challenge, and the existing obsolete laws need constant amendment and the enactment of new ones, for better repositioning and contribution to national development.

“The present House of Representatives, under my leadership, as you may know, is committed to the core legislative functions of Parliament which is law making and laws can only be made through bill processing.

“Modern legislatures perform a myriad of functions and roles which derive from their constitutional position in a democracy.

“We, therefore, believe that democratic norms must also be employed in bill process to ensure public input and acceptance, hence the essence of the public hearing.

“As leaders, we must do all we can through effective and result-oriented leadership, for positive impact, particularly in the education sector.’’

Dogara urged the Ministry of Education, heads of agencies and relevant stakeholders to be pro-active and open to positive changes.

He stressed the importance of legislative process toward effective service delivery and vibrant tertiary education in Nigeria.

“I wish to remind us that posterity will always judge our actions and inactions; so we must do the needful today and leave the uncertainties for tomorrow.

“Our youths of today must be given the best, to forestall any future calamity,’’ Dogara said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Aminu Suleiman, said: “quality and assisted education is the best gift and legacy to the youth and must be upheld to produce responsible and self-reliant youth.’’