The Nigerian Senate has halted a legislative proposal seeking to relocate a federal polytechnic to Nasarawa Eggon, Nasarawa State, advising its sponsor to pursue the establishment of a new institution instead.
The decision followed concerns raised by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, when lawmakers considered the Federal Polytechnics Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, sponsored by Senator Danladi.
Danladi had proposed moving the institution to Nasarawa North Senatorial District, arguing that the constituency had been left without a federal tertiary institution following the conversion of the Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa West into a university.
While presenting his argument, the senator maintained that Nasarawa North needed a federal institution to improve access to higher education and address the educational gap in the area.
However, Akpabio cautioned that the proposed amendment could create legal and political complications because the polytechnic had already been upgraded to university status. He explained that approving the relocation could effectively mean moving the university from its existing host community.
The Senate President therefore recommended that the upgraded university remain at its current location while Danladi initiates a separate bill for the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa Eggon.
According to Akpabio, the alternative would address the constituency’s demand for a federal higher institution without disrupting the operations or location of the existing university.
He also expressed optimism that the proposal to establish a new polytechnic could attract support from lawmakers and President Bola Tinubu if presented through the appropriate legislative process.
To clarify his position, Akpabio likened the situation to a primary school being upgraded to a secondary school, explaining that the original institution could no longer be treated as a separate entity for relocation purposes.
Danladi accepted the Senate President’s recommendation, acknowledging that pursuing a fresh bill would be a more suitable approach.
Consequently, the amendment bill was stepped down to give the senator an opportunity to prepare a new legislative proposal focused on establishing a Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa Eggon.
If the proposed institution eventually receives approval, it could expand access to technical and vocational education in Nasarawa North, a constituency whose representative says it currently lacks a federal institution of higher learning.
