A BILL FOR AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE EDO STATE MARITIME POLYTECHNIC, OFUNAMA; TO MAKE PROVISION FOR ITS GOVERNANCE, POWERS, FUNCTIONS, FINANCING, STAFFING AND RELATED MATTERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES: A PROPOSAL.

 

DRAFT BILL

EDO STATE OF NIGERIA

A BILL FOR AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE EDO STATE MARITIME POLYTECHNIC, OFUNAMA; TO MAKE PROVISION FOR ITS GOVERNANCE, POWERS, FUNCTIONS, FINANCING, STAFFING AND RELATED MATTERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

ENACTED by the House of Assembly of Edo State:

PART I — PRELIMINARY

1. Short title and commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the Edo State Maritime Polytechnic, Ofunama Establishment Act, 2025.

(2) This Act shall come into force on the date it is assented to by the Governor.

2. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

PART II — ESTABLISHMENT, OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE

3. Establishment of the Polytechnic

There is hereby established an institution to be known as the Edo State Maritime Polytechnic, Ofunama which shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and capacity to sue and be sued in its corporate name.

4. Location

The Polytechnic shall be located at Ofunama, in Ovia South West Local Government Area,  Edo State, and the site described in the First Schedule to this Act shall be vested in the Polytechnic for the purposes of this Act.

5. Objectives

The objectives of the Polytechnic shall include—
(a) to provide full-time and part-time courses for the training of skilled and professional manpower in maritime and allied disciplines;
(b) to advance learning, research and technology in maritime-related fields and to disseminate the results of such research;
(c) to provide opportunities for the acquisition of certificates, diplomas, Higher National Diplomas (HND), and other recognized qualifications in maritime and allied fields;
(d) to collaborate with industry, ports authorities, shipping companies and other institutions for practical training, internships and job placement; and
(e) to promote entrepreneurship and seafarer certification pathways for graduates.

6. Functions of the Polytechnic

(1) The Polytechnic shall—
(a) provide vocational, technological and professional education at all levels as determined by the Academic Board;
(b) award certificates, diplomas, HNDs and such other qualifications as may be approved by the Academic Board and relevant regulatory authorities;
(c) carry out research in maritime, logistics and allied fields and encourage industrial application of findings;
(d) run programmes for the development of seafarers and port technicians in line with international conventions where applicable; and
(e) perform such other functions as may be necessary for the purpose of achieving its objectives.

PART III — GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

7. Governing Council

(1) There shall be a Governing Council for the Polytechnic which shall be responsible for the general direction and superintendence of the affairs of the Polytechnic.

(2) The Council shall consist of—
(a) a Chairman appointed by the Governor;
(b) the Rector (ex officio);
(c) the Commissioner for Education (or representative);
(d) two persons representing maritime industry associations and operators in Edo State;
(e) two persons of proven administrative capacity nominated by the State Government;
(f) a representative of the alumni (once established);
(g) a representative of the Academic Staff Union; and
(h) the Bursar (ex officio) and other co-opted members as the Governor may appoint.

(3) Members appointed under subsection (2) shall serve for a term of four (4) years and may be eligible for re-appointment for one further term.

8. Powers of the Council

The Council shall—
(a) formulate policies and strategic plans for the development of the Polytechnic;
(b) approve budgets and development plans;
(c) receive and expend funds of the Polytechnic in accordance with this Act;
(d) appoint committees as necessary for the discharge of its functions; and
(e) perform such other functions as are necessary for good governance of the Polytechnic.

9. Meetings of the Council

(1) The Council shall meet at least four times in a year.

(2) The quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be one-half of the members.

(3) Decisions of the Council shall be by simple majority of members present and voting. In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

10. The Rector

(1) There shall be a Rector who shall be the Chief Executive and academic head of the Polytechnic.

(2) The Rector shall be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Council and shall hold office for a term of five (5) years, renewable once.

(3) Qualifications for appointment as Rector shall include:
(a) a terminal degree (PhD preferred) or HND with substantial relevant professional experience in maritime education or industry;
(b) not less than ten (10) years of experience in relevant teaching, management or professional practice; and
(c) proven leadership and administrative capacity.

11. Other Principal Officers

The Polytechnic shall have such other principal officers as the Council may determine, including—
(a) Deputy Rectors (Academics and Administration);
(b) Registrar;
(c) Bursar;
(d) Librarian; and
(e) Director of Works & Physical Planning.

12. Academic Board

(1) There shall be an Academic Board responsible for academic affairs, standards of instruction, examinations and the award of certificates and diplomas.

(2) The Academic Board shall consist of the Rector (Chair), Deputy Rector (Academics), Heads of Departments, elected representatives of academic staff, and such other members as the Council may determine.

(3) The Academic Board shall submit an annual report on academic matters to the Council.

PART IV — ACADEMIC ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAMMES

13. Academic Departments and Programmes

(1) The Polytechnic shall have departments, faculties and schools as approved by the Academic Board. Examples include—

(2) The Polytechnic shall offer programmes leading to Certificates, National Diplomas (ND), Higher National Diplomas (HND), professional certificates and such other awards as may be approved by relevant regulatory bodies.

14. Accreditation and Standards

All programmes shall be conducted in accordance with the standards of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) where applicable, and other relevant regulatory authorities.

15. Admission and Mode of Study

(1) Admission to certificate, ND and HND programmes shall be by such methods as the Academic Board may determine, including UTME (where applicable), direct entry, and approved bridging programmes.

(2) The Polytechnic may run full-time, part-time, sandwich and evening programmes, as well as short professional courses for industry personnel.

PART V — STAFF, SERVICE CONDITIONS AND DISCIPLINE

16. Employment of Staff

(1) The Polytechnic shall employ such academic, administrative, technical and other staff as are necessary for the discharge of its functions.

(2) Conditions of service, discipline and pension rights for staff shall be in accordance with terms and conditions approved by the Council and in conformity with state and national regulations.

17. Staff Establishment and Honorarium

(1) The Council shall, in consultation with relevant service commissions, determine the establishment and remuneration of staff.

(2) The Polytechnic may employ adjunct staff and engage consultants on short-term contracts for specialized instruction.

18. Staff Discipline

The Polytechnic shall have rules to regulate staff conduct, grievance procedures and conditions for termination, including appeals mechanisms.

PART VI — FINANCE AND PROPERTY

19. Funds of the Polytechnic

The funds of the Polytechnic shall consist of—
(a) subventions from the Edo State Government;
(b) fees, levies and charges for services and programmes offered;
(c) grants, gifts and donations;
(d) income from consultancy, research and commercial activities; and
(e) such other monies as may accrue to the Polytechnic from lawful sources.

20. Financial Year and Accounts

(1) The financial year of the Polytechnic shall be the same as that of the State Government.

(2) The Polytechnic shall keep proper accounts of its income and expenditure and prepare annual estimates which shall be approved by the Council and submitted to the Auditor-General for the State.

21. Audit

The accounts of the Polytechnic shall be audited annually by the Office of the Auditor-General for the State or by an auditor appointed in accordance with the laws of the State.

22. Banking and Investments

(1) The Polytechnic may open bank accounts and invest surplus funds as may be approved by the Council in line with extant financial regulations.

(2) No permanent commitment shall be incurred by the Polytechnic without prior provision in the approved estimates, except with express approval of the Council.

23. Borrowing Powers

The Polytechnic may, with the approval of the State Government and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, borrow funds for capital projects and development.

PART VII — STUDENTS, FEES AND WELFARE

24. Student Admissions and Discipline

(1) The Polytechnic shall maintain rules for the admission, conduct and discipline of students.

(2) The Polytechnic shall provide adequate welfare services including health, counseling, and career placement services.

25. Fees and Charges

(1) The Polytechnic may impose fees, charges and levies for its programmes subject to approval by the Council and compliance with State guidelines.

(2) Concessions and scholarships may be awarded to deserving students by the Council on merit and need-based criteria.

26. Students’ Union

There shall be a Students’ Union which shall be the authorized representative body of the students. The activities and funding of the Students’ Union shall be subject to regulations set by the Council.

PART VIII — LAND, INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT

27. Vesting of Land

The land described in the First Schedule to this Act is hereby vested in the Polytechnic for the purpose of erecting buildings and carrying out its functions.

28. Development Plan

(1) The Polytechnic shall prepare a master development plan setting out phased infrastructure, laboratories, workshops, a maritime simulation centre, hostels, and an institute for seafarer training.

(2) The development plan shall be submitted to the Council for approval and periodically updated.

29. Environmental Safeguards

All infrastructural development shall comply with environmental regulations and best practices to protect coastal and marine ecosystems.

PART IX — RESEARCH, INDUSTRY LINKAGE AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

30. Research and Consultancy

The Polytechnic shall encourage applied research, enter into consultancy contracts, and commercialize innovations where appropriate, subject to Council oversight.

31. Industry Linkages

The Polytechnic shall develop internship, apprenticeship and industrial attachment schemes with port authorities, shipping companies, marine service providers and international partners.

32. International Standards

The Polytechnic shall endeavour to align professional training and certifications with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards and other relevant global benchmarks.

PART X — MISCELLANEOUS

33. Regulations

The Council may, with the approval of the Governor, make regulations for the better carrying into effect of the provisions of this Act.

34. Transitional Provisions

(1) On commencement of this Act, the Governor shall establish an Implementation Committee to oversee the transition from planning to operation.

(2) The Implementation Committee shall—
(a) prepare an inaugural operational plan and budget for the first three years;
(b) nominate interim officers where necessary until substantive officers are appointed; and
(c) report progress to the Council and the Ministry.

35. Protection from Personal Liability

No member of the Council or an officer of the Polytechnic shall be personally liable for any act done in good faith in the discharge of the functions of their office.

36. Offences and Penalties

Any person who—
(a) fraudulently represents himself to be a staff or certified seafarer of the Polytechnic; or
(b) tampers with the Polytechnic’s records for financial gain,
shall be guilty of an offence and liable to prosecution under relevant State criminal laws and to disciplinary sanctions by the Polytechnic.

37. Interpretation of Provisions

Where any question arises as to the interpretation of this Act, the Council shall refer such question to the Governor whose decision shall be final, subject to any legal remedies available.

38. Citation

This Act may be cited as the Edo State Maritime Polytechnic, Ofunama Establishment Act, 2025.

FIRST SCHEDULE — DESCRIPTION OF SITE

(Provide a detailed description of the land to be vested, including plot numbers, GPS coordinates, and boundaries. Example template below.)

  • Location: Ofunama, Ovia South West Location Government Area , Edo State

  • Approximate Area: __________ hectares

  • Plot / Survey Number(s): __________

  • Coordinates: Latitude: __________, Longitude: __________

  • Boundaries: North by __________; South by __________; East by __________; West by __________.

SECOND SCHEDULE — INITIAL PHASED ESTIMATES (Indicative)

Note: These figures are template placeholders and should be replaced by the approved budget estimates from the State Ministry of Finance.

Capital Expenditure (Phase 1 — Years 1–3)

  • Land preparation, fencing and access roads: ₦__________

  • Academic buildings (classrooms, labs, simulation centre): ₦__________

  • Workshops and engineering laboratories: ₦__________

  • Administration block and library: ₦__________

  • Hostels and staff quarters: ₦__________

  • Marine simulator & training vessels (if any): ₦__________

  • ICT infrastructure and security: ₦__________

  • Contingency (10%): ₦__________

Recurrent Expenditure (First Year Estimated)

  • Salaries and wages: ₦__________

  • Utilities and maintenance: ₦__________

  • Academic materials and consumables: ₦__________

  • Student services and welfare: ₦__________

MODEL FEE STRUCTURE (EXAMPLE)

(To be approved by the Council and State Authorities)

  • Acceptance fee (one-time): ₦15,000

  • Registration (per semester): ₦10,000

  • Tuition (ND full-time, per session): ₦40,000

  • Tuition (HND full-time, per session): ₦60,000

  • Hostel accommodation (per semester): ₦30,000

  • Examination and certification fees: ₦15,000

IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

  1. Establish Implementation Committee and appoint Interim Secretariat.

  2. Confirm land vesting and obtain environmental clearances.

  3. Prepare detailed Master Plan and Architecture drawings.

  4. Secure seed funding and budgetary allocation from State Government.

  5. Recruit key management staff (Rector, Registrar, Bursar, Directors).

  6. Apply for accreditation and programme approvals from NBTE and NIMASA.

  7. Procure equipment, simulators and training aids.

  8. Launch public awareness and student recruitment campaign.

Prepared as a comprehensive draft bill for presentation to the Edo State House of Assembly and for use by policy drafters, the Ministry of Education, and stakeholders. Figures and placeholders should be replaced by validated data from the State Ministries and technical consultants.

Contact / Prepared by:
Global Egberi Media International
Email: globalegberimedia@gmail.com
Phone: +234 813 490 2214

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