Governor Matawalle Moves To Divert Nigerian Technical College Allocated To Northern District In Zamfara To His Western Zone

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has written to the Federal Ministry of Education requesting to divert the establishment of the Federal Science and Technical College in Zamfara North Senatorial District to his Zamfara West Senatorial District.

The Federal Ministry of Education in a letter dated September 7, 2022 and signed by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had informed Governor Matawalle of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the establishment of the college specifically in Zamfara North and asked the governor to recommend three locations within the zone for the college.

However, Governor Matawalle in a letter of response and acknowledgement dated November 11, 2022 and signed by the state Commissioner for Education, Nasiru Zarumi Masama, requested the approval of the federal government for the project to be diverted to his zone, particularly, his Maradun Local Government Area.

The letter from the Federal Ministry of Education titled ‘Establishment of New Federal Science and Technical Colleges’ sighted by SaharaReporters read, “I write to inform Your Excellency, that the Federal Government has prioritiSed the establishment of Science and Technical Colleges as a key objective of the nation's youth policy.

 

“In this regard, the President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a Federal Science and Technical College in Zamfara North Senatorial District of your State that has no Federal Unity College to commence in 2023.

“In view of the above, Your Excellency is kindly requested to forward three (3) recommended locations or Secondary Schools within the Senatorial District for upgrade to a Federal Science and Technical College.

“Subsequently, a Technical Team from the Federal Ministry of Education would be visiting your state to review the recommended locations for further consideration.”

But Governor Matawalle in his response wrote to the Federal Ministry of Education and said, “I write to inform the Hon. Minister that the Zamfara State Government has acknowledged with thanks, the receipt of your letter, and to subsequently forward our recommendation of the proposed location for the establishment of the college.

“The Zamfara State Government feels obliged to recommend Mu Alledi GDSS Maradun for upgrade on the ground of its standard learning facilities and accessibility for the smooth take-off of the college.

“Furthermore, two virgin sites have been identified and recommended for expansion and construction in Maradun town on the ground of their topographical nature, availability as government-Owned sites, and suitability for school structures.

“It is on this basis that the Ministry of Education Zamfara State invites the Federal Ministry of Education's feasibility team to visit Zamfara State for assessment of the recommended school for possible upgrade, and the two virgin sites, preferably on Wednesday 16 November, 2022 or any date Convenient for the assessment team.”

In view of the governor’s move to divert the project duly approved by President and directly allocated to their zone, some residents of Zamfara North raised the alarm against the governor’s decision.

Some of the residents who spoke with SaharaReporters under the condition of anonymity for security purpose described Governor Matawalle’s action as injustice for their zone in the state. “Considering that the other two zones have had federal projects already within the span of 1999 to date but governor Matawalle has decided to change the location of d project to his own Zone in his LGA, Maradun precisely,” one of them said.