Only improved funding will prevent NISER from collapse, DG tells FG

The Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) Ibadan has appealed to the Federal Government for increased funding to prevent the imminent collapse of the research institute.

Director General, NISER Ibadan, Dr Folarin Gbadebo-Smith, painted this dire situation when Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba, visited the institute to assess its state of facilities.

From the library in a state of decay to collapsing fence and fear of encroachments, inadequate resources to finance field research and seminars, the huge overhead cost in maintaining its environment, Gbadebo-Smith said improved budgetary sum had become more expedient than ever.

Speaking alongside other management staff of the institution, Gbadebo-Smith also clamoured for incentives and salary for its professors, wondering why NISER professors did not earn as much as university professors.

Noting that the Federal Government underutilised the potentials of the institute as a centre for socioeconomic research to guide the nation’s policies, he bemoaned that government rather engaged consultants at high costs to draft its policies.

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As against currently having less than 50 professors, Gbadebo-Smith noted that the institute needed about 200 researchers to fully and effectively serve the Federal Government.

While stressing the need for improved funding, he lamented that the institution was not on the educational institutions hence could not access TETFund or funds from the National Universities Commission.

For Nigeria to compete globally, he urged the Federal Government to appropriate adequate resources for research and education.

In his response, Agba promised to make a case for NISER to get improved budgetary funding to facilitate its upgrade in facilities.

He bemoaned ineffective use of the nation’s resources by the government over the years as resulting in the infrastructure deficit.

In spite of the funding challenge, he, however, charged academics at NISER to remain undeterred in improving the body of knowledge through research, noting that the Federal Government will collaborate with NISER in crafting national development plans.

Speaking further, Agba charged the management of NISER to consider digitising its library, assuring that the Federal Government will also assist in such regard.