Senate approves establishment of Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Iwo

The Senate, on Wednesday at plenary, gave approval to the establishment of Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Iwo, Osun.

Our correspondent reports that the approval followed the presentation and consideration of a report on a bill to establish the institute by the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security.

It was also reported that the report was laid by Chairman of the committee, Sen. Oseni Yakubu (APC-Kogi).

According to Yakubu, the bill, consisting of 25 Clauses and 1 Schedule, seeks to establish the institute to provide full-time and part-time courses of instruction and training in ICT and other related fields of study.

He also said that the bill sought to make provisions for the general administration of the institute.

The senator disclosed that out of all submissions received from stakeholders on the bill, only two were opposed to it.

He mentioned the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as vehemently opposing the bill.

Yakubu added that the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy also objected to the bill on one hand, adding, however, that it conceded that should it be passed and assented to, the institute should be domiciled under its supervisory authority.

“However, all other stakeholders supported the bill, saying that the establishment of the institute would be of immense economic advantage to Nigeria.

“They were also of the opinion that the establishment of the institute will alleviate the challenge of inadequate manpower in the ICT sector, thereby making room for improved job opportunities and employment generation”, he added.

Our correspondent reports that the bill was passed after consideration by the Committee of the Whole.

In a related development, the senate re-considered and passed a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Education, Aguleri in Anambra.

This followed a motion for the bill’s re-committal moved by Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC-Kebbi).

Abdullahi 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.

He observed that some fundamental issues which required fresh legislative action by both chambers of the national assembly emerged after a critical analysis of the bill.

The senator stated that a technical committee of the Senate and House of Representatives as well as 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 sought to establish Federal Polytechnic Dange, Sokoto State and National Agency for Ethics, Values and Integrity Compliance.

They also provided legislative framework for the establishment of Nigerian Television Authority College, Jos; Federal School of Nursing and Midwifery, Igbeagu and Federal College of Agriculture, Obot Akara, Akwa-Ibom.

The bills were sponsored by five senators: Danbaba Ibrahim, Patrick Akinyelure, Istifanus Gyang, Samuel Egwu and Stephen Ekpenyong.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred the bills after consideration 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.