The Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), ABU, Zaria, and the Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD), OAU, Ile Ife at the weekend challenged the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) to restore hope to the sector by responsibly discharging its administrative obligations, adding that the current administrative deficiencies of NAEC is a serious threat to the realization of the country’s nuclear energy program.
In a statement jointly signed by Professor A.Y. Fasasi of CERD and Dr Y. A. Ahmed of CERT made available to Blueprint in Abuja, the centres lamented the failure of NAEC to disburse what they described as “unpaid earned allowances, zero capital allocation and inadequate overhead” to staffers of the two energy research centres.
“We wish to note with utmost disappointment that soon after the takeover of CERT and CERD by NAEC from the Energy Commission of Nigeria, NAEC only paid lip service to the quest foe adequate funding of the centres,” the statement said, adding that it was a systematic attempt to deliberately stall progress at the centres.
While stating that “CERT and CERD have not received one kobo of allocation for research activities,” the academics further disclosed that NAEC does not disclose to the Centres what their capital allocations are, adding that “NAEC unilaterally expends the capital allocations of the two Centres on projects not meant for them,” the statement added.
