PDP Chieftain Urges VP Shettima to Intervene in NAUB-NDA Merger

A prominent member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno state, Alhaji Idris Mamman Durkwa, has called on Vice President Kashim Shettima to intervene in the proposed merger of the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) with the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) in Kaduna.

The merger is part of the federal government’s efforts to implement the Stephen Oronsaye report on restructuring and merging of government agencies to reduce administrative costs.

Durkwa acknowledged the benefits of the merger but argued that the NAUB’s unique circumstances warrant its exemption from the restructuring.

He pointed out that the university is located in a region that has been educationally disadvantaged due to the over decade-long Boko Haram crisis.

He emphasized that merging the university would negatively impact the educational future of the people in the region.

Despite being a PDP Chieftain, Durkwa stressed that the issue of NAUB is not political.

He backed the appeals of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state and other concerned citizens to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt the merger.

He highlighted that the NAUB has already had its convocation and is currently offering various courses across six faculties.

Durkwa further argued that the merger of NAUB with NDA is not justifiable because the Oronsaye Report was released in 2012, while the NAUB was established by an Act of Parliament in 2018.

He emphasized that no other federal university has been affected by the directive, making the case for NAUB unique.

The PDP Chieftain recalled the role that Vice President Shettima played in the establishment of the university, including the approval of the site and the delivery of the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) when he was the Governor of Borno state.

He expressed confidence that both President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima would give a listening ear to the pleas for NAUB to maintain its status quo and ensure the educational future of the children of Borno State, the northeast, and Nigeria in general.