Hon Akinlade At The National Assembly Science and Tech Trust Fund in Ibadan Dec 2008

The National Assembly has proposed a bill for the establishment of a science and technology trust fund to aid science and technological education. The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade made this known in Ibadan when he led members on oversight function to the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), Ibadan. Mr. Akinlade said the establishment of the trust fund will reduce the reliance on government subvention by agencies in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology thereby increasing their efficiency. According to him, the Committee was really concerned with the poor state of laboratories, particularly in schools and will assist NISLT in sanitizing the laboratories. He commended the Director-General of NISLT for the initiative of establishing a standard laboratory which would serve as reference for regulating science laboratories in the country. He said next year’s budget would only be passed after consideration of the assessment visit of the various Committees on oversight functions, adding that only areas that needed government’s intervention would enjoy appropriation. Other members of the House Committee also commended the DG of NISLT for the judicious use of funds generated and those allocated to the Institute. They however urged him to ensure that the Institute continues to embark on programmes that would reach the people at the grassroots as well as ensuring that the Institute’s scientific programmes are well spread to all geo-political zones. Presenting his paper, the Director -General of NISLT, Dr. Ighodalo Folorunso Ijagbone called for a review of the Act establishing the Institute. He said “We have operated this Act for the past four years and have seen areas of deficiency which we would want to empower us more to be able to carry out our mandate”. He stated that the Institute was being hampered due to paucity of funds, adding that the current fund allocation to the Institute was grossly inadequate to allow it perform its statutory duties. He added “As a relatively young agency, we have been pleading with the relevant authorities for special interventions to assist us develop all our required infrastructure. It is our humble prayer that the Committee would kindly consider this for us. I assure the Committee that we would perform and deliver if we are adequately empowered financially”. Welcoming the Committee Members, the President and Chairman of Council, Mr. Samuel Akanji decried the rate at which students were abandoning science subjects for the arts. He maintained that the act could jeopardize the nations attempt at technology development. www.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=-1596875299&page_url=//www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/23274/79/&page_last_updated=2008-12-04T08:03:28&firstName=Abiodun&lastName=Akinlade