Senate Passes Bill To Establish Legal Framework For Kano Varsity

The Senate has passed a bill seeking to provide a legal framework for the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano, following its conversion from a federal college of education.

The bill, sponsored by Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin, representing Kano North, was passed during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The legislation seeks to establish a statutory foundation for the university’s administration and management, as well as provide for the promotion and development of teacher education.

President Bola Tinubu approved the conversion of the Federal Colleges of Education in Kano and Zaria into federal universities of education in September 2024. He subsequently approved the renaming of the Kano institution after the late elder statesman Yusuf Maitama Sule on May 10, 2025, following a request by Barau.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Barau’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, said the senator sponsored the bill to give the institution the legal backing required to fulfil its mandate.

Leading the debate on the bill, Barau commended Tinubu for approving the university’s upgrade and renaming, describing the legislation as necessary to establish a comprehensive framework for its operations.

He recalled that efforts to upgrade the institution and other colleges of education into universities had been made during the previous Senate, but the bills were not assented to by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

Barau said Tinubu approved the Kano institution’s conversion after he presented the request on behalf of his constituents. He later sought and secured presidential approval to name it after Maitama Sule.

The deputy senate president also cited Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology in Kabo and the Federal Polytechnic in Rano as other interventions for Kano State.

Akpabio commended Barau for sponsoring the legislation and thanked senators for supporting its passage.

He expressed optimism that Tinubu would assent to the bill after its transmission to the President, providing the university with the statutory and regulatory framework needed to operate effectively.