The House of Representatives Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation wants the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, NARICT to use the 2023 budget to build the capacity of youths in chemical technologies for industrial revolution..
The Chairman of the Committee, Beni Lar made the call during the budget defense of the agency and others
before the Committee at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, Beni Lar said the committee’s
interest in the 2023 budget is ensure the transformation of youths and students on profitable technical energy knowledge and environmental pollution mediation.
Lar stressed that the institute needed to double its efforts in engaging youths and students through training
and other forms of outreach programs in chemical technology.
“We urge NARICT to use the 2023 budget to adequately engage, empower the youths with life skills that will bring
about innovative cutting-edge research, development in the processing and conversion of indigenous raw materials
into valuable chemicals and petrochemicals for industrial applications,”
She maintained that the move will lead to drastic reduction in the importation of basic chemicals used
in Nigeria through local production and remedying the hazardous chemical pollution in the Niger Delta.
“This committee on Science, Technology and Innovation will strategically and consistently engage NARICT to birth
greater diversity of professionals in order to develop new ways to attain international expertise in chemicals related
to environmental interventions, petro-chemicals, chemical analysis, chemical process design, modelling and simulation,
engineering fabrications and designs, chemical analytical instrumentation and quality control.”
The Chairman urged NARICT to prioritise securing available donor funds for chemical technology and seek partnership
for alternative funding outside the annual budget.
While presenting the budget of the institute, the Director-General of NARICT, Professor Jeffrey Barminas told the
Committee that the budgetary allocation to the institute was grossly inadequate as he said it is affecting the
performance of the institute.
Professor Barminas stated that the 2023 of N305 million is below what the institute got in 2022 appropriation.
“What was appropriated for us last year was 1.9 billion but now we are having less than 550 million, that’s
the projection we are having. See where we are going to have problems, the researches that we are supposed to complete,
that will be affected”
He solicited the intervention of the Committee for improved funding for the institute.
By Ifeanyi Osita Edited by Grace Namiji
Curled from Radio Nigeria Abuja online
