President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to remit all funds due to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) as statutorily provided in the constitution.
This is even as it has also directed the agency to fast-track industrial development across the country, setting a target for the manufacturing of a made in Nigeria helicopters.
directives at the opening of the meeting of the governing board of NASENI in Abuja, where he urged the governing board to work towards repositioning the agency in order to achieve its mandate.
Speaking in his capacity as the Chairman of the governing board of NASENI, Buhari, on the need for prompt release of funds meant for the agency said: “In order to realise its full potential, NASENI must be empowered through the provision of adequate financial, human and material resources and be given the autonomy and independence to forge international partnerships to acquire the relevant technologies for socio-economic and industrial advancement of the country.
“In this regard, I have directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning as well as the Federal Inland Revenue Services to commence remittances of funds approved by law to the agency,” he said.
The President noted that NASENI is a mechanism for stimulating linkages between science and technology academics and the industrial sector on one hand and the country’s economic and structural transformation on the other.
He said: “Under the Act establishing the agency, NASENI is to operate as an extra-ministerial department with its mono mandate institutes across the country. It is my desire that this meeting of the governing council will reposition NASENI for the realisation of its mandate as envisioned by its founders.”
Buhari in his opening remarks before the board went into closed door meeting encouraged NASENI to develop local capacity in machine building and fabrication for industrial development in the country.
He also said the agency can help Nigeria develop homegrown technology that can lead to economic development and post-covid sustainability, as nations of the world battle to survive the COVID-19 era.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chairman of the agency, Mohammed Haruna, thanked President Buhari for his support to NASENI.
President Buhari said the agency is poised to carry out its mandate of improving science and engineering innovations that would enhance development in the country.
