Funding: NASU Makes Case For Research Institutions

The Non-Academic Staff
union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), has called on the Federal Government to increase funding for research and development institutions in the country.
Deputy President of NASU, Mr Wakili Tijani, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.
Tijani said that government should devise a steady means of ensuring increased flow of resources to the all-important sector in order to achieve the goal for which they were established.
According to him, the Federal Government should implement its agreement with the unions on the need to increase the annual budgetary allocations to the sector in line with UNESCO recommendations.
“Government should approve a special intervention fund for a period of three years on a 50:30:20 ratios annually like it did for the universities.
“Government should create a special fund to be called national research and technology development fund,” he said.
Tijani also expressed concern over the country’s economy and the rising unemployment which, he said, was assuming a dangerous trend.
“We, therefore, call on government to take the bull by the horn and tackle, with utmost urgency, the problem of increasing level of unemployment and poverty,” said the NASU boss.
He also urged government to assist farmers by adequately providing them with fertiliser, loan facilities and infrastructure for easy movement of farm produce.
He commended the Federal Government on the recruitment of 500, 000 graduates as teaching staff.
The NASU leader expressed dismay at the delay in approving the release of the new conditions of service for research institutes, colleges and allied institutions since 2013.
According to him, the delay is obstructing the implementation of the 65 years retirement age for staff of the research and allied institutions and other welfare matters.
“While our counterparts in the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education have had their retirement age reviewed upward from 60 years to 65 years, staff of research and allied institutions have remained 60 years.