GOOD NEWS: BILL TO ESTABLISH FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC ABA PASSES SECOND READING
Afnews Editor
Apr 23, 2019
A bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of a Federal Polytechnic, Aba, Abia State, on Tuesday passed second reading at the House of Representatives.
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The bill titled: "A bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of the Federal Polytechnic, Aba, Abia State; and for Related Matters (HB.1613)" emanated from the Senate.
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The bill was seeking concurrence in the House for a second reading.
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Moving the motion on the bill, Rep. Idris Wase (APC-Plateau), said it was important to pass the bill for such an institution in Aba.
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Also, the Deputy Chief Whip, Rep. Pally Iriase, said that Aba deserved a Federal Polytechnic given the industrial ingenuity of the people of the area.
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"It is good to lend our support and see reasons cogent enough to establish a federal polytechnic in Aba. This is one bill to my mind that is very well thought out.
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"Aba is noted for industry and the ingenuity that today's science can only help to improve upon. And no institution can do this better than a federal polytechnic.
"This is one bill that is nice for this House to pass," Iriase said.
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Similarly, Rep. Nkiruka Onyejeocha (APC-Abia), said that the establishment of the Polytechnic will assist the factories in the city.
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"We have a lot of factories in Aba that if we establish a federal polytechnic in Aba, it is going to help a lot.
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"We need federal presence in Aba. Mr Speaker, I appeal that our colleagues should please support the bill," she said.
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Rep. Betty Apiafi (PDP-Rivers), spoke in favour of the bill, saying it should be supported.
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Similarly, Rep. Wole Oke (PDP-Osun), said, "Abia State deserves federal polytechnic in Aba. Abia is also an oil producing state. So, I support this bill," Oke said.
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Meanwhile, Rep. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta (PDP-Abia), said that though he was in support of the establishment of the institution, it should, however, be sited in the area that "lays the golden egg".
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Nkem-Abonta was referring to the oil producing zone of the state which he represents.
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"We should look at the demography of the state. We should not forget the hen that lays the golden eggs. The area to site it is very important," he said.
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He then moved to propose an amendment to the bill to include the clause but was advised by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, to do so at the Committee/public hearing level.
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The speaker, in his concluding remarks to the debate, expressed surprised that Aba did not have a federal Polytechnic before now, insisting that it deserved one.
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"It baffles me that we don't have a polytechnic already in Aba. The location shouldn't be a problem.
"If there is a place to establish a federal polytechnic in Nigeria, it should be in Aba. It is long overdue. When it gets to committee level, you can raise those issues," he said.
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When the bill was put to a voice vote by the speaker, it was unanimously adopted by the members and passed through second reading. (DP)
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— Afnews Editor