The Senate Tuesday passed a bill to establish the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo, Benue state.
Also passed was a bill for the establishment of the Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Suleja.
The passage of both bills followed consideration of two separate reports by the Committees on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), and Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central), in his presentation, said the passage of the bill seeking to establish the University of Medical Sciences Otukpo, would give legal backing to the institution which is already in existence.
“Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, this is coming at a very important time in our history.
“With the challenges of the pandemic and the importance of the health sector generally in Nigeria and globally, creation of a University of Health Sciences is very necessary.
“More importantly, the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, is already in existence but needs legal backing to effectively carry out its mandates,” Oloriegbe said.
The lawmaker added that the bill seeks to, among other things, address the dearth in admission of students aspiring to study medicine and Allied Health Sciences in Nigeria.
He added that the university would fill the vacuum created by the loss of manpower in the country’s health services industry to migration and brain drain.
