… call for adequate funding for research institutes
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to ensure prompt payment of N42,726,712.05 to the whistleblower who unravelled the N100 billion on alleged economic sabotage through tax evasion and money laundering activities.
The House passed the resolution, following the adoption of the recommendations of the House Committee on Public Petitions chaired by Uzoma Nkem-Abonta (PDP-Abia), on the petition initiated by 1st Synergy Resources Limited against Salini Nigeria Limited.
According to the Committee, five percent of the recommendation should be paid to the petitioner, in line with the Whistler Blowing Policy of the present administration.
“That the House do consider the Report of the Committee on Public Petitions on the Petition by 1st Synergy Resources Limited against Salini Nigeria Limited on alleged economic sabotage through tax evasion and money laundering activities amounting to over N100,000,000,000 from 2001 to date and approve the recommendations therein,” Nkem-Abonta urged.
The report, which was laid July 26, 2017, before the House, was considered and adopted by the House during the Committee of the Whole.
While considering the report, the House urged that the sum of N42,726,712.05 being the total amount arrived at by the Consultant, Olayiwola Adesina and Co. (Chartered Accountants); Salini Nigerian Limited and Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) be paid to the Petitioner.
Furthermore, at plenary, the House urged the Federal Government to dedicate at last one percent of the total annual budget for research institutions in Nigeria.
In the same vein, the House tasked the Federal Government to set up a Task Force to monitor the utilisation of the funds.
In his lead debate, Olajide Jimoh, expressed displeasure over inadequate funding of research institutes across the country over the years by the Federal Government.
Jimoh recalled that on March 4, 2016, research experts under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) protested in Abuja over inadequate of government funding of the research institutes.
“The House is aware that all the developed nations in the world are paying attention to research and training at various sectors ranging from science and technology to agriculture.
“The House is also aware that the bulk of the researches being carried out at various Research Institutions in Nigeria are largely funded by interested individuals and Non- governmental Organisations (NGOs) from within and outside Nigeria, whereas the outcome of such research work are mostly kept in various institutions libraries and laboratories without their being used for developmental purposes.
“The House is concerned that direct and indirect jobs can be created for the teeming unemployed youths by virtue of adequate funding of the research institutions in Nigeria by the Federal Government,” the lawmaker said.
To this end, the House mandated the Committees on Tertiary Education and Services, Science and Technology, Labour, Employment and Productivity, Agricultural Colleges and Institutions to organise a joint session on funding Research Institutions in Nigeria.
