The Kaduna State chapter of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has expressed strong opposition to the establishment of four new federal institutions in Zaria, accusing the federal government of marginalizing other parts of Kaduna, particularly Southern Kaduna.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its chairman, Mr. Luka Binniyat, the MBF criticized Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas, for allegedly prioritizing his hometown at the expense of equitable development across the state.
“While the groundbreaking ceremony for these institutions in Zaria on December 15, 2024, is seen as a positive development, it fails to acknowledge the needs of other zones, particularly the Middle Belt area of Kaduna State,” Binniyat stated.
The four new institutions—Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Federal College of Education, Federal Open University, and Federal College of Legal Studies—were allocated a budget of ₦80 billion and are expected to be completed within 18 months. This brings the total number of federal institutions in Zaria to nearly 15.
The MBF lamented the glaring imbalance in the distribution of federal schools, pointing out that Southern Kaduna, comprising 12 local government areas and a significant source of skilled manpower for the state, has only one federal institution, the Federal School of Statistics in Manchok.
Binniyat highlighted the absence of transparency in the legislative process that led to the establishment of these institutions. “We have not seen any public hearings or plenary debates on these bills, unlike the Bill for the University of Applied Sciences in Manchok, sponsored by Senator Sunday Marshall Katung,” he said.
The MBF called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and Nigerians to address what it described as “prohibitive favoritism” in the allocation of federal resources. The Forum emphasized that Speaker Abbas, as a national leader, should represent the interests of the entire country and state, not just his hometown.
The group also urged Southern Kaduna residents to leverage their numerical strength and advocate for fair representation and power in the state. “As long as we continue to play second fiddle during elections, we will remain marginalized,” the statement concluded.
This development has sparked renewed calls for balanced resource distribution and a greater sense of inclusivity in federal projects across Kaduna State.
