By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State House of Assembly has adopted a motion directing Bauchi State Government to as a matter of urgency construct hostels at the Bauchi Campus of the State University in order to ease accommodation problems facing the students particularly the female students who are exposed to sexual harassment.
The House during its plenary of Tuesday adopted the motion brought by Jamilu Umaru Dahiru representing Bauchi Central Constituency moved calling on the State Government to construct hostel accommodations in the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences Yuli Campus, Bauchi State University Gadau and provide shuttle buses.
Leading debate on the motion, Jamilu Dahiru explained that there is no hostel structure on ground in the Campus which discouraged students from other local governments to apply for admission into the University.
He added that because the campus is 10 kilometers away from the City, it becomes difficult to most students to transport themselves because of lack of shuttle buses and inability to pay high cost, ranging from N800 to N1000 daily.
The Member added that he was reliably informed that the lack of hostel accommodation and government’s shuttle buses has subjected the students to sexual harassments and intimidations and several accidents involving students were recorded.
He said that, “The most pathetic thing is how they are left at the mercy of their thought in which they look for any vehicle of anybody to take them to school or to home. Some miscreants are using this undue advantage to deceive and lure innocent young girls into unhealthy relationship and sometimes rape. These are our sisters and daughters whom we are always advocating to go to school.”
Jamilu Umaru Dahiru prayed that the House should urge the Government to as a matter of urgency provide hostels accommodation in the Campus, liaise with TETFUND to construct hostels, contact various institutions and organizations in the State to fill the gap under corporate social responsibility and government should immediately provide shuttle buses to ease the transportation of the students.
In his response, the Speaker said that the motion was timely and explained that even on his way to the Assembly, he saw large number of students around Tirwun looking for vehicles to convey them to the Campus
Contributing to the debate, Yusuf Muhammad Bako representing Pali Constituency said that the matter affect everybody because the students are daughters and sons who are subjected to various dangers.
He added that there are criminals who took the advantage of lack of the vehicles to use their personal cars to give lift to female students in which they end up intimidating and raping them.
Bala Abdullahi Dan representing Duguri/Gwana Constituency opined that all institutions have benefited from TETFUND, without sending any committee, therefore, there is no need for the House to send any committee to TETFUND.
Yunusa Ahmad representing Warji Constituency suggested that lack of hostel is a very paramount matter and a private hostel was built opposite the Campus but because of litigation between the owner and a company that is claiming ownership of the land and courts injunctions, the owner of the hostel didn’t put it to use.
He therefore called the State Government to intervene between the company and the individuals so that individuals can build private hostels for the students to rent at cheaper cost
Baballe Abubakar Dambam representibg Dambam/Dagauda Jalam Constituency suggested that additional prayers should be added to include government does not carry its responsibilities at when due, therefore the government should consider Public Private Partnership with individuals like AYM Shafa to build hostels and subsidize the hostel fee.
He also suggested that the House should direct the House Committee on poverty alleviation to discuss with Ministry of SMEs to use the monies from repayments of some poverty alleviation initiatives to buy vehicles and give them to the university.
However, Minority Leader, Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo representing Chiroma Constituency said that private individuals should not be encouraged to build more hostels because of the high cost of renting and the motion is moved to reduce the hardship being faced by students due to the cost of the private hostels.
Kawuwa Shehu Damina representing Darazo Constituency said that government cannot build enough hostels thus there is the need of the PPP and private hostels by individuals. He added that even older institutions you can’t find enough hostels built by government.
Musa Wakili Nakwada representing Bogoro Constituency is of the view that government should be discouraged from building hostels because if individuals are allowed to build hostels the cost will drop and hostels will be affordable to students.
After the debate, the House resolved to adopt the prayers of Honourable Jamilu Umaru Dahiru alongside the suggestions by Baballe Abubakar Dambam and Yunusa Ahmad.
