The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter, has raised concerns over the allocation of four new federal institutions to Zaria town, facilitated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas.
The forum described the move as unfair and called for equitable distribution of resources and development across the state.
In a statement issued over the weekend, Luka Binniyat, Chairman of the MBF Kaduna Chapter, criticized the decision to award additional federal institutions to Zaria, which already hosts 15 federal higher learning institutions.
He argued that this concentration of institutions in one town is unjustifiable, especially when other areas, particularly Southern Kaduna, remain neglected.
The newly allocated institutions include the Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Federal College of Education, Federal Open University, and Federal College of Legal Studies.
This expansion comes with a budget of N82 billion secured within 19 months of Abbas assuming office.
Binniyat pointed out that Southern Kaduna, which covers 57% of the state’s landmass and 52.1% of its population, has only one federal institution—the Federal School of Statistics, Manchok.
He questioned the lack of transparency in the allocation process, noting that there was no record of public hearings or plenary discussions in the National Assembly for these new institutions.
Comparing the process with the establishment of the University of Applied Sciences in Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area, Binniyat highlighted the extensive public scrutiny and legislative procedures that accompanied the latter.
He called on Speaker Abbas to provide clarity on how the four new institutions were allocated exclusively to Zaria.
The MBF chairman also urged the people of Southern Kaduna to recognize their political and numerical strength and push for better representation in state governance. He emphasized the need for a united front in demanding equitable treatment during elections and governance processes.
Furthermore, the forum appealed to the federal government to reassess the distribution of institutions and resources across Kaduna State to ensure fairness.
It stressed that development should be spread across the state rather than concentrated in a single area.
The MBF concluded by reminding Speaker Abbas of his national responsibility as Speaker of the House of Representatives, urging him to ensure fairness in representing all regions, especially his home state of Kaduna.
