By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A prominent son of Kaduna State, Pama John Auta, has deplored the current situation where three schools in the Southern part of the state – the Kafanchan campus of Kaduna State University (KASU), the state-owned School of Nursing, and College of Education, Gidan Waya –lack basic amenities.
He further criticized the absence of access roads to the institutions.
Auta, an opposition party stalwart from Narom village of Zonkwa Ward, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA), took the position in a statement he personally signed and issued to newsmen.
Lamenting what he described as the dire state of the affected institutions, he said they are in urgent need of intervention.
The statement was titled: ‘Dear Governor Uba Sani, Our People Want Impact Over Perception’.
Auta, who appreciated the State government for some vehicles and cash donation and promises of bus as well as construction of access roads to the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia (FUASK), however, stated that a lot more needs be done.
Pointing accusing fingers at the state government for swiftly ameliorating the situation of the newly established federal institution in the state (FUASK), Auta wondered why state-owned higher institutions were being left in jeopardy, stressing that charity should begin at home.
He thumbed up the efforts of the Senator representing Kaduna South in the National Assembly, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, and other respected leaders from Southern Kaduna Zone in pushing for President Bola Tinubu’s assent to a bill establishing the Applied Science University and its immediate take-off, hailing same as commendable gestures.
“The news of a recent donation of two vehicles and cash (seed), as well as the promise of a bus and the construction of the access road to the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, by the Kaduna State Government is well noted and appreciated.
“Given the efforts of Senator Barrister Sunday Marshall Katung and other respected leaders from our zone in pushing for the President’s assent to the bill establishing the university and its immediate take-off, this gesture is truly commendable.
“However, charity begins at home. It is therefore ridiculous that you’re swiftly investing in a newly established federal institution while state-owned schools like the Kafanchan campus of Kaduna State University, Kaduna State College of Nursing, and Kaduna College of Education, Gidan Waya, are in dire need of intervention.
“To be specific, the access roads to these institutions are deplorable, students’ hostels are in dire straits, basic amenities are lacking, and staff have embarked on several strikes and shut down the schools due to poor working conditions.
“As the governor, with primary responsibility for these issues, prioritizing a federal institution (which is the primary responsibility of the Federal Government and for which budgetary provisions would be made in the 2025 supplementary or 2026 national budget) over state-owned schools, is deeply concerning,” he noted.
Auta added: “In addition, Sir, you based your decision to make that intervention on the fact that the new federal school does not have a budgetary provision at the moment. Kindly clarify if your intervention in the school, which will amount to hundreds of millions or even billions of naira, was captured in the 2025 budget of the state or if you simply opted to spend the state’s resources without appropriation.
“Your Excellency, it is sad to note how you’re constituting yourself into a busybody who jumps to quench the fire in his neighbor’s house while the fire in his own house rages, simply in a desperate bid to earn public applause.
“You need to understand, or perhaps be reminded, that governing Kaduna State requires tact, not publicity stunts. Our people want tangible impact, not perceptions. We urge you to act with urgency in addressing the needs of state-owned schools as you are doing with the FUASK.
“Also, remember that the people of Kaduna State will hold you accountable for how you deploy and/or prioritize their resources toward their needs and not those of the federal government.”
Recall that the state government recently donated vehicles to two top shots of the Applied Science University, promised to construct the university’s access roads and provide security to engender a safe learning environment –a move greeted with jubilation in Southern Kaduna.
