By Sani Idris

A Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisation of Nigeria (CCCSON), has berated the Nigerian Governors advice which resulted to slash in the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure's (NASENI) grant by N11.58 billion, calling on President Buhari to reverse the slash.

Newsmen reports that Nigerian governors, had advised President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to take some urgent coordinated steps as efforts to instil fiscal discipline and prevent the nation from economic collapse, which resulted in slash of grants of some MDAs including NASENI.

Newsmen also reports that on April 14, the Senate, at a plenary approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for the adjustments to the 2022 fiscal framework.

A breakdown of the net reductions were NDDC, by N13.46 billion from N102.78 billion to N89.32 billion; NEDC, by N6.30 billion from N48.08 billion to N41.78 billion;and NASENI by N11.58 billion from N56.14 billion to N44.56 billion, among other reductions.

In a statement by CCCSON on Tuesday in Kaduna, they urged President Muhammadu Buhari to increase NASENI's grant to 2% as as it was earlier, considering the Agency's strategic importance.

The statement was signed by Cmrd. Abdulsalam Kazeem, President, Unified Nigerian Youth forum, Cmrd. Aliyu Sani,President, Arewa Youth Federation and Cmrd. Elizabeth Uche, Converner, South East Youths for Sustainable Growth and Development.

Other signatories to the statement were Hon. abdulmajeed Oyeniye, Speaker Oodua Youth Parliament and Activist Gabriel Emmanuel-Abela, National Coordinator, South South Youth for Peace and Stability.

The Coalition noted that NASENI was established to stimulate linkages between science and technology, academic and Industrial sector and the country's economic and Industrial transformation

According to them, Nigerias inability to produce what it consumes and over reliance on foreign made goods and technologies, was responsible for the weakened naira and growing unemployment which translated to the unprecedented increase in crime rate.

"To reverse this negative trends, President Buhari did what the successive regimes failed to do by mandating FIRS to deduct the approved grant from the source, with the promise of increasing it, if the Agency justified what they are getting.

"Since the Presidential order translates to automatic reduction in funds available to States from the central feeding bottle, our governors felt they have gotten a perfect avenue to attract more funds to their state, hence, the unpatriotic call to reduce the grant.

"We note that it is this mindset of the governors that made it almost impossible for both Federal and State governments to solve the lingering ASUU strike.

"It is unfortunate that instead of looking at the merit of research based and development driven institutions and advocating for their empowerment, they choose to suggest downsizing of their grants,"they said.

The Coalition urged President Buhari to not only discard NASENI's grant slash, but conclude plans in ensuring that the grant is increased from the 1 per cent to 2 per cent.

"NASENI's actions towards science, innovation and technology is timely and it will stand challenge of time, hence for the imperative need for the upward review of their grant," they said.

They called on Governors to minimise relying on Federal government for help and look inward in raising funds for running their states.

"The present turn of events globally tells us that leadership is for those who can bring something to the table not those who want to reap where they didn't sow.

"For instance, NASENI in recent time has helped greatly in developing local capacity and capabilities, which in return has taken us from consumer base economy to knowledge based innovative and manufacturing economy with significant and visible economy benefits".

The Coalition commended NASENI for designing first made in Nigeria Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Helicopter for Agriculture and Security Surveillance, the role they played during COVID-19 surge and making it possible for mechanised Agriculture at the hands of locals.

They urged the National Assembly to throw out any bill aimed reducing NASENI'S grant in appreciation of the agency's efforts towards the spate of infrastructural, digital and technological development across the Nation.

News Politics

Goodluck to your defection - Adamu taunts Buhari’s nephew for dumping APC

KINGSLEY CHUKWUKA

August 16, 2022 2:16 PM

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu has described the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew from the party as nothing new.

Goodluck to your defection - Adamu taunts Buhari’s nephew for dumping APC

Adamu said in a TV interview on Monday night, August 15, 2022, that if Buhari's nephew felt that the best thing to do was to rebel against the President who has given him so much, just because he couldn't get the party's ticket, then good luck to him.

According to him: "If this guy is a nephew of the president and knowing that Nigerians have bestowed so much confidence in the Buhari and have elected him as president with so much confidence, and the nephew would feel the best, if he didn't get his way is to rebel and go some other way, well good luck. You can’t force it", Adamu said.

Recall that the President’s nephew, Hon. Fatuhu Muhammadu, who represents Daura/Mai’Adua/Sandamu Federal Constituency in Katsina State reportedly dumped the APC after failing to get a return ticket to the House of Representatives.

Fatuhu had disclosed his defection in a letter addressed to the ward chairman of Sarkin Yara A ward in Daura.

Though he did not mention if he was defecting to another party, his media aide, Ahmad Ganga, had said his principal met with the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, recently.

Reacting during the TV interview, Adamu said once there are primaries some people are bound to feel offended because they didn’t get what they wanted.

He said that is one of the reasons why the issue of reconciliation is a continuous process, adding that “in this process you can only reconcile the reconcilable".

Continuing, he said , “sometimes you people in the media give these things the kind of credence it doesn’t deserve. I have seen as the chairman of this party and even before I became chairman, I have seen in my career as a politician, two brothers, same father and mother go to two different parties. It’s nothing new", he said.

Our reporter notes that if it is confirmed that Fatuhu has defected to the PDP as it is being speculated, it means that President Buhari is being represented in both the House of Representatives and Senate by members of the main opposition party.

The Senator representing Katsina North (Daura zone) Ahmad Babba – Kaita, had defected to the PDP following a misunderstanding with the Governor of the State, Aminu Masari.

Fatuhu had, however, in June threatened to destroy the APC, alleging that he was cheated out of the primary election that produced Aminu Jamo as the party’s flagbearer.

Fatuhu is the son of President Muhammadu Buhari’s late elder brother.

KINGSLEY CHUKWUKA