The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) and a coalition of civil society campaign for research funding and strategies for national transformation have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the National Assembly to pass the National Research and Innovation Council bill for third readings.
ASURI secretary general, Professor Theophilus Ndubiaku in an interview with news men on Thursday in Abuja said, the bill has passed second readings, went for public hearing and now waiting for the Senate to pass it for third readings before sending to the president for a assent.Prof. Ndubuaku said, the coalition comprises of about thirty civil society organisations and ASURI are trying to get the bill pass so that the council can be established, adding that they have being on it for over a decade now.
He explained that, there is no how research put at the back door in Nigeria can trigger development in the country, saying that countries in the world that have developed did that as a result of the level of research carried out by researchers in those countries.
According to him, the researchers have made several attempts through the previous assembly to get Tetfund act amended so that it can accommodate them, but to no avail as it met resistance from Tetfund.
“Any way in the 8th Assembly the national assembly passed the bill but was not assented by the president a. Situation that prompted us writing to all Minister’s, Permanent secretaries, members of house of reps and distinguished senators stating our position before the presidency write to us and urged us to represent the bill which we’ve done now.”No country in the world can grow without it’s research components, perhaps that is why we are where we are now,” he said.
