Reps threaten to sanction science minister over absence at research fund hearing

The House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology has threatened to escalate its criticism of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, for missing a public hearing on a bill aimed at establishing a National Research and Innovation Development Fund. The committee warned that Udeh's absence could hinder the passage of the proposed legislation and impede Nigeria's pursuit of international research grants.

They also expressed dissatisfaction with the ministry's failure to send a representative to the hearing, despite the ministry's direct responsibility for the sector. Committee member Ahmed Usman Jaha, representing Borno State, described the ministry's absence as a sabotage of the executive-legislature relationship, stating that it was unacceptable for a ministry responsible for an executive-sponsored bill to bypass the legislative process.

The committee had invited several other ministers and stakeholders, but none attended. Jaha emphasized the need for either the minister or the Permanent Secretary to appear before the committee. He noted that an international stakeholder had honored the committee's invitation, while the ministry responsible for the fund failed to participate.

Jaha cited the African Technology Policy Studies Network, whose representative informed the committee that several African nations had established national research and innovation funds, while Nigeria had yet to do so. The committee has given Udeh and the Permanent Secretary another chance to appear before the end of the public hearing.

If they fail to do so, the committee plans to raise a motion of urgent public importance at the next House sitting. The committee chairman, Zakariya Tijjani Zannah, stressed the necessity of a sustainable funding mechanism for research, coordination of scientific activities, and the translation of discoveries into commercially viable products.

Zannah lamented that Nigeria lacked a dependable legal and institutional framework to finance research, coordinate scientific activities, and bring discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace. The committee urged stakeholders to scrutinize the proposed governance structure, funding arrangements, and grant allocation process to ensure transparency and accountability.