Senate approves Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Iwo
PRESS STATEMENT
Senate Approves Institute Of Information and Communication Technology,
Iwo
The Senate, on
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 gave approval to the establishment of the Institute
of Information and Communication Technology Iwo, Osun State.
The approval
came following the presentation of the report on a Bill to establish the
Institute by the Committee on ICT and Cyber Security.
The report was
laid and presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Oseni Yakubu (Kogi
Central).
In his
presentation, Sen. Yakubu said the Bill which consists of 25 Clauses and 1
Schedule, seeks to establish the Institute to provide full-time and part-time
courses of instruction and training in Information and Communication Technology
and other related fields of study, and to make provisions for the general
administration of the Institute.
He disclosed
that out of all submissions received from stakeholders on the Bill, only two
were opposed to it.
According to
the lawmaker, “while the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
vehemently opposed the Bill, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy
opposed it on one hand, but conceded that should the Bill be passed and
assented to, the institute should be domiciled under its supervisory
authority.”
“However, all
other stakeholders supported the Bill, opining that the establishment of the
Institute would not only be of immense economic advantage to Nigeria, but also
alleviate the challenge of inadequate manpower in the ICT sector, and thereby
make room for improved job opportunities and employment generation”.
The Bill was
thereafter passed into law after consideration by the Committee of the Whole.
In a related
development, the Senate during plenary re-considered and passed a Bill seeking
to establish the Federal University of Education, Aguleri, Anambra State.
This was sequel
to a motion for the Bill’s re-committal into the Committee of the Whole for
reconsideration moved by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North).
The Senate
Leader recalled that the Federal University of Education Aguleri, Anambra State
(Establishment) Bill, 2022 was passed by the National Assembly and transmitted
to the President for assent.
The President
observed that, “some fundamental issues which require fresh legislative action
by both chambers of the National Assembly emerged after a critical analysis of
the Bill by Mr. President, C - in - C.”
The Senate
Leader stated that a Technical Committee of the Senate, House of
Representatives and Directorate of Legal Services met and worked on the Bill.
Accordingly,
the chamber rescinded its decision on the Bill as passed and re-committed same
to the Committee of the Whole for reconsideration and passage.
Meanwhile, a
total of five Bills scaled second reading on Wednesday.
The Bills seek
to establish the Federal Polytechnic Dange, Sokoto State; the National Agency
for Ethics, Values and Integrity Compliance; to provide legislative framework
for the establishment of the Nigerian Television Authority College, Jos; to
establish the Federal School of Nursing and Midwifery Igbeagu, Ebonyi State;
and the Federal College of Agriculture, Obot Akara, Akwa-Ibom State.
The Bills were
sponsored by Senators Danbaba Ibrahim, Patrick Akinyelure, Istifanus Gyang,
Samuel Egwu and Stephen Ekpenyong, respectively.
The Senate
President, Ahmad Lawan, referred the Bills after debates on their general
principles to the Committees on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND;
Establishment and Public Service Matters; Information and National Orientation;
Health (Secondary and Tertiary); and Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.
The Committees
were all given four weeks to report back to the Senate in plenary.
Signed:
Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, FAI, FIMC, CMC, FCP, Fsca
Special Assistant (Press)
To President of the Senate
Wednesday, March 16, 2022.