Jibrin, Oduah Laud Ekwunife Led Science and Tech Committee

KINGSLEY UBANI 

The Chairman Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator Uche Ekwunife (Iyom) on Thursday received commendations from the Senate Committee on Appropriation. This came during the presentation of the 2021 Harmonised Budget Report by the Committee.

In his remark, the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Senator Barau Jibrin, commended Senator Ekwunife for a detailed and well analysed report. He described her report as the best of all the budget reports that have come before the Committee.

Similarly, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Stella Oduah, commended Ekwunife for the wonderful presentation of the Committee’s report. She noted that the outcome of the report presentation is a reflection of Senator Ekwunife’s capacity to deliver incredible results in the Senate and in her future positions.

During her presentation, Senator Ekwunife called for more intervention funds for the Science and Technology sector.

In her speech she stated that “Science and Technology advancements have been achieved globally through breakthroughs in Research and Development results in collaborations with the Private Sector.” According to her, “Science and Technology Ministry and its agencies remain the gateway to Nigeria’s technology advancements and innovations.”

The Federal Lawmaker observed that with the billions of Naira disbursed by the Federal Government for Covid-19 pandemic, Science and Technology sector did not receive a dime from such Special intervention funds for its Research and Development. 

She stated that in most developing countries, Science and Technology agencies received adequate funding for Research and Development to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, however, according to her such was not the case in Nigeria.

Ekwunife appealed to the Appropriation Committee to allocate funds to National Biothechnology Development (NABDA) Agencies and Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) to meet up with the shortfall in their personnel costs, failing which they may not be able to pay workers salaries.

She also appealed for monies to be allocated to the Federal Industrial Research Institutes, Bioresource Development Centres and Technology Business Incubator Centres across the country that have zero allocation for personnel, overhead and recurrent expenditures in order for them to stay in business. 

She further requested for Research Intervention funds for Agencies in the Science and Technology Sector especially Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency for development of its R&D results in natural medicine for various infectious diseases.