I did not work against University of Health Science bill, Saleh replies critics

Member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency at the House of Representatives, RT. Hon. Hassan Anthony Saleh, has debunked the rumour making rounds on the social media that he was working against the establishment of a federal university in Otukpo.  

The Nigerian Senate had penultimate Wednesday, passed the second reading of the Bill for an Act to establish Federal University of Health Sciences (FUHSO), Otukpo, as sponsored by former Senate President, Dr. David Mark.

 Subsequently, the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND conducted a public hearing on the bill on Monday, 6th November, with the attendance of 3 out of the 4 Reps members from Benue South, where the University is to be sighted.  

The unavoidable absence of the lawmaker at the public hearing informed a social media outburst in some quarters at the weekend, inferring that the vibrant and outspoken lawmaker may have deliberately absconded from the event, as a sign of his disapproval for the establishment of the institution.

  In a press statement signed by his Senior Legislative Aide, Steve Obochi Okwori and made available to newsmen Sunday morning, Saleh described the rumour as “unfounded and misleading”.  

He said, there was no way he could have worked against a bill that was seeking to bring development to a district he loved so much and would go extra miles to see it developed.  Saleh recalled how he sponsored and moved a motion for an “urgent need to complete and operate the College of Health Science/Teaching Hospital Otukpo”, when it became obvious that the University that was pronounced at the wee of last administration was revoked thereafter. 

 The lawmaker said, at the time of the said public hearing, he was at the Vietnamese Embassy in Abuja for a Visa interview, alongside other members of his delegation who would be traveling to the Republic of Vietnam this week.  

As a vibrant member of the House Committee on Agricultural Institutions, Saleh said, the federal government mandated him to lead the delegation of other lawmakers, Minister of Agriculture and other Senior Officials of the Ministry to Vietnam, in a move that would also greatly benefit Benue state and Nigeria at large.  

The Ogbadibo born Politician who is eyeing the senate seat in 2019, pledged his total support to the bill which is currently before the senate, adding that, he would also appreciate if the senate would quickly pass it and send to the green chamber for concurrence.  

He pledged total commitment to whatever would contribute to the development of not only his immediate constituency, but also to the Benue South and Benue State in general.  

While lauding the Sponsor of the bill, Senator Mark for such a timely legislative intervention, Saleh also commended the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, the Ministry of Education, the National University Commission and other bodies and groups who gave support to the bill at the public hearing last week.

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