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Reps’ committee urges more budget cash for science, technology complex

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House of Representatives’ Committee on Science Engineering has called for more budgetary allocation to aid efficiency of research at Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) in Abuja.

Commitee Chair, Inuwa Garba, who spoke during an oversight visit to SHESTCO yesterday, decried the state of the complex due to lack of proper funding.

Garba, explaining research is the bedrock of development, said Nigeria should not be left behind in science and technology.

The lawmaker noted the organisation is not living up to expectations due to government’s negligence for the facility.

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‘’There is a lot of good investment in SHEDA but because of negligence, the organisation isn’t up to standard. This place needs government’s attention.

‘’We have gone round and seen departments in SHEDA but we are not impressed, because as a research institute, the government should make a robust and effective budget to aid efficiency.

‘’We see billions worth of investment here but nothing is happening. Is it because of lack of proper funding or other issues that we will go back and discuss with the other committees to see how we can partner the director general and management of SHEDA to see what the House can do to make this place work.

‘’Looking at the trend globally in science and technology,Nigeria should not be left behind… Without research, there won’t be development and without development there won’t be positive change.

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‘’We need to identify the problems, and go back to the House to discuss and engage the ministry representing government.”

Director-General of SHESTCO, Prof Paul Onyenekwe, lamented that the organisation operates with less manpower.

Onyenekwe said they are collaborating with universities to tackle the lack of manpower, and called for more electricity to support equipment in the organisation.

‘’The key request from the committee is electric power, because we have equipment that we switch off and on which isn’t supposed to be because it affects the memory system…

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‘’We have less manpower, the complex is only about 320 staff. The numbers that are technicians, researchers and technologists are just about 50 per cent, but what I have done is task the engineers and the technologist so if there is any equipment that is troubleshooting it will enable us know what is wrong.

‘’We are collaborating with universities to tackle lack of manpower, we can use some of their lecturers to design and work and apply for funds. TETFUND, one of the financiers of most university research, SHESTCO cannot source anything from there because it’s not a university but we can collaborate with universities to to get funding from them and we have started’’, he added.

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WATCH moment Tinubu hails FCT minister for his doggedness, sterling performance

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President Bola Tinubu has described the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister Nyesom Wike as a performing and dogged technocrat.

Naijablitznews reports Tinubu made this assertion during his maiden presidential chat on Monday.

The president rounded up by saying “I doff my hat for the performing minister.

Watch clip below:

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BREAKING: Human Rights Lawyer Dele Farotimi Released

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By Gloria Ikibah

Prominent human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has been released after fulfilling his bail conditions.

Farotimi, who had been in custody over allegations of defaming Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, regained his freedom on Tuesday morning.

He is currently enroute to his home in Lagos.

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Confirming the development, activist and politician Omoyele Sowore stated on X, “I am pleased to report that Dele Farotimi is no longer being held in the prison facilities of Ekiti State and is now returning home to Lagos. The struggle continues!”

Earlier, a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti granted Farotimi bail, setting conditions that included a N30 million bond, two sureties (one of whom must be a property owner), the submission of his passport, and a restriction on granting media interviews following his release.

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NASC backpedals reverses Atiku’s appointment as DCNA, replaces him with Yero

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Following the intervention by the National Assembly leadership, the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, has reversed the appointment of Dr Ibrahim Atiku as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, DCNA.

The Commission has replaced Atiku with the permanent secretary [Estate and Works Directorate], Engineer Bashir Yero.

This was consequent upon the outcome of a meeting convened Monday night by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and their deputies in attendance.

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Present also at the meeting were the Chairman of the NASC, Engineer Ahmed Amshi, two commissioners from NASC, and some permanent secretaries in the NASS bureaucracy.

THE CONCLAVE learnt that the high-level meeting took place in the Senate President’s residence.

Reports from the meeting said that the chairman of the NASC and his commissioners could not justify the appointment of Atiku when asked by the speaker how the choice of Atiku was arrived at.

THE CONCLAVE reports that it was at that point that the commission chairman sought the leave of the Senate President and the Speaker to ask that the permanent secretaries present should excuse them since they could not be sitting over a matter in which they had personal interest.

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Upon their return to the room, after the leadership had arrived at a resolution one way or another, it was agreed that Engr. Bashir Yero of Estate and Works Directorate be appointed the DCNA, while Engr Sanda Liman of Procurement Directorate, be redeployed in Estate and Works.

The newly promoted Ibrahim Atiku [to the position of permanent secretary], as resolved and directed, should be deployed in Procurement Directorate.

The NASC is expected to formalise and/or activate the decision soonest.

Source: CONCLAVE

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