The Forum of Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer, Nigerian Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (PICTT-NASENI) has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the appointment of Khalil Suleiman Halilu as the new Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
In a congratulatory message signed by the coordinator of PICTT-NASENI, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, Monday, the group commended President Tinubu for listening to their appeals to re jig the agency, following the alleged refusal of the former EVC, Dr. Bashir Gwandu to treat their case with dispatch.
The sum of N83 million is supposed to be paid to the group as a research grant and loan from the federal government through NASENI, following their research engagement but disbursement of the funds, supposed to have been completed before December 2022, is yet to be done.
In the letter copied to the President and Chairman of the Board of NASENI, the group lamented that most of the beneficiaries obtained bank loans with huge interest rates in lieu of disbursement of the funds from the PICTT. It, therefore, lamented that the delay in disbursement of funds, coupled with the recent removal of fuel subsidy, has made their financial situation more challenging.
“We thank Mr. President in his capacity as chairman of the Governing Board of NASENI for his wisdom and foresight in making the appointment of a square peg in a square hole.
“We congratulate the new EVC and use this opportunity to wish him a successful tenure while asking for a courtesy call for members of the forum to formally brief him about our projects,” the letter stated.
