Senate Passes Barau’s Bill to Give Kano Education University Legal Backing

The Senate has passed a bill seeking to establish a legal framework for the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education in Kano State, paving the way for a statutory structure to guide the institution’s administration and operations.

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

The proposed legislation seeks to provide the legal foundation for the management and administration of the university, as well as promote the development of teacher education in Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu approved the conversion of the Federal Colleges of Education in Kano and Zaria into federal universities of education in September 2024.

On May 10, 2025, Tinubu also approved the renaming of the Kano institution as the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, following a request by Barau on behalf of his constituents.

Leading the debate on the bill, Barau said the legislation was necessary to give statutory backing to the university and establish a comprehensive framework for its operations.

He commended Tinubu for approving both the institution’s upgrade and its renaming in honour of the late Nigerian diplomat and statesman, Yusuf Maitama Sule.

Barau recalled that he had pursued similar initiatives during the previous Senate, including efforts to upgrade the Federal College of Education, Zaria, and other colleges of education into universities.

According to him, the bills were passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to former President Muhammadu Buhari but were not assented to before the end of his administration.

He said he subsequently approached Tinubu after he assumed office to convey the demand by his constituents for the Kano college to become a full-fledged university.

“The President subsequently approved the upgrade of the institution,” Barau said, adding that he later requested that the university be named after Maitama Sule, a proposal Tinubu also approved.

The deputy Senate president said the institution now offers degree programmes in various fields of education, stressing that the proposed law would strengthen its capacity to fulfil its mandate.

Barau also commended the President for approving other projects in Kano State, including the Federal University of Science and Technology in Kabo and the Federal Polytechnic in Rano.

In his remarks, Akpabio praised Barau for sponsoring the bill and thanked senators for supporting its passage.

The Senate president expressed optimism that Tinubu would assent to the bill when it is transmitted to him, giving the university the statutory and regulatory framework required to advance teacher education and contribute to national development.