The House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has promised to expedite action to ensure the bill establishing the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU) is passed into law.
Leader of the committee, Honourable Uduak Odudoh, stated this recently during oversight functions of the committee to the NMU, Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Addressing newsmen shortly after assessing the university facilities in the twin communities of Okerenkoko and Kurutie, Odudoh said once the bill is passed, the institution will kick-start as soon as possible.
He identified inadequate funding as the major challenge confronting the NMU and promised to ensure that it is adequately funded to compete favourably with its counterparts in the country.
The lawmaker commended the Tompolo Foundation which, according to him, had contributed about 40 percent to the development of the institution.
He also thanked the leadership of the host communities for ensuring absolute peace in the area as well as providing large expanse of land for the university.
“We will ensure that the bill is passed into law so that everything that is supposed to come to the university will not be denied.
“We will also do everything as a parliament and include in our budget the building of a standard clinic in the university because of its distance from the upland.
“I use this opportunity on behalf of the committee and the House of Representatives to thank the Tompolo Foundation.
“From our assessment and reports, 40 percent of what we are seeing here and the other campuses are done by the Tompolo Foundation.
“We also commend the communities for graciously donating large expanse of land. This shows that they want development,” he said.
The committee leader assured that the House of Representatives will graciously attend to all the challenges confronting the university.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the NMU, Professor Emmanuel Adigio, identified inadequate funding, transportation, electricity and staff accommodations as some of the challenges in the university.
Adigio urged the Federal Government to build staff houses as well as increase funding for the institution.
“This university was initiated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). We are pleading with them to increase the funding to enable us to have more staff,” he said.
The House Committee had earlier in the day visited the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, Oboro-Gbaraun 11, Aketekpe, Agadagba at his annex palace in Warri to intimate him on their oversight visit.
The royal father urged the committee to ensure speedy passage of bill that established the university and accented to by President Bola Tinubu to become an Act.
The king noted that the gesture will enable the NMU to enjoy same benefits with the other universities.
On the House Committee delegation were Omoleye Francis, Mathew Kuzalio Abubakar Mohammed and Mrs Ilami Ngbor (Clerk).
On the part of the NMU were the Registrar NMU, Dr Alfred Mulade; Dr Charley Igwe, Associate Professor Basil Posigha, acting liberian, Professor Tolumoye Tuaweri, director academic planning, among others.
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