May Day: Assent research funding bill

The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions and Civil Society Coalition for Research Funding and Strategies for national transformation on Monday called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to give his assent to the National Research and Innovation Council  Bill.

The PUNCH reports that the Bill, which has since been passed by the Senate, is presently in the House of Representatives, awaiting concurrence.

The General Secretary of ASURI, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku while giving his address at Eagles Square, Abuja on Monday noted that a letter has already been addressed to the president on the matter.

Acceding to the ASURI scribe, The letter was titled “Fervent appeal on the need for Presidential Assent to the National Research and Innovation Council (Establishment Bill), 2023.”

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He said,  “We, a coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations, in collaboration with the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions hereby make a fervent appeal to the patriotic zeal of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, to ensure that he gives Presidential Assent to the National Research and Innovation Council Establishment Bill, 2023, before he hands over to the in-coming administration on May 29, 2023.

“Research is the bedrock of scientific and technological development, it is worthy of note that developed nations embrace and fund research adequately.

“It is also worthy of note that neglect of research by successive administrations in Nigeria is responsible for the comatose state of the nation’s mandate Research and Development Institutes and the present socio-economic woes such as massive unemployment, leading to insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other numerous overwhelming vices.

“We are appealing most fervently therefore that Mr President writes his name in gold by signing the NRIC Bill into law before relinquishing power constitutionally on May 29, 2023.

Ndubuaku said in making the appeal with every sense of responsibility, they make the following affirmations:

“NRIC is the vital funding component of the Federal Government approved National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation, which was initiated since the 1960s as a much-needed institutionalised funding mechanism for research;

“While inaugurating the present Governing Council of NRIC on January 7, 2016, barely six months after assuming office, Mr President, in his capacity as the statutory Chairman of NRIC, expressed the hope that with NRIC, Nigeria would soon start producing Nobel Laureates. By this very fact, we are not in doubt that the whole essence of NRIC is not lost on Mr President. 

“The Council, which consists of the Vice President and all Ministers whose Ministries supervise Research Institutions, among others, has been meeting regularly.”