Zulum begs Tinubu to reconsider merging NAUB with Defence Academy
By Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state, has appealed President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the merging of Nigerian Army University, Biu (NAUB) with the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) as a faculty.
The merger of varsity with NDA, followed the directives of Tinubu to implement the Oronsaye Report of rationalizing federal government agencies, parastatals and commissions.
While appealing the President on Thursday at a news conference in Maiduguri, Zulum disclosed: “Borno state and the Northeast region, which is recovering from the 15-year terrorism needed more educational institutions of higher learnings.”
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According to him, higher institutions of learning in the region, will counter the negative narratives of Boko Haram insurgency.
Besides countering the insurgency narratives, he added: “Retaining of University by the federal government could also bolster the non-kinetic approach of tackling the over a decade conflict,” noting that insurgency has claimed manly lives and property in the northeast.
He said the University has already admitted and graduated many students not only from the region, but in the six geo-political zones,
Zulum lamented that many qualified students for the Northeast, could not be admitted into other tertiary institutions in the country.
The Governor continued; “If it’s possible the President should allow the varsity, as an Army University because of the importance of education in the region.
“While Boko Haram is saying that education is forbidden.”
He warned that by allowing this University to be merged with NDA, the terrorists might have achieved one or two of their objectives in the country.
Zulum, therefore, alternatively recommended to Tinubu that the Federal Ministry of Education can take over the Army University by converting it to a conventional university.
He however commended the President for taking the bold steps of rationalizing some of the federal agencies and commissions.
“The implementation of Oronsaye Report is to reduce costs of governance with efficient delivery of services to the people,” he said.
He noted that the Federal Government decision is timely, particularly at a time government is making efforts to reinvigorate the ailing economy of Nigeria.
