Senate considers establishment of Metallurgical Training Institute
By Benjamin Arida://
Senate has considered a bill seeking to establish the National Metallurgical Training Institute in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The National Metallurgical Training Institute (Establishment) Bill, 2021, which scaled second reading during yesterday’s plenary, was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC Kebbi North).
The bill was read for the first time on September 15, 2021.
Leading debate on the bill, Senator Abdullahi said the institute, when established, would be responsible for training of low and middle level technical manpower in maintenance and repair works for steel and allied industries in Nigeria.
He explained that establishment of the Institute was against the backdrop of the feasibility study carried out in 1979 by the German Agency for technical cooperation, GTZ.
According to him, the German agency observed the lack of the skill technical manpower to maintain and run the heavy mechanical and electrical equipment in the steel, oil & gas and manufacturing industries.
He explained that the agreement between the German and Nigerian governments out of which the Institute was established in 1980, required that the German government provide equipment and organise foreign technical training for Nigerians, while the Nigerian government should provide the physical infrastructure and the personnel to be trained.
He added that the institute, when established would create a pool of indigenous technical workforce that can erect, commission, operate and maintain the steel industries thereby reducing Nigerian dependence on foreign technical workforce.
Senator Abdullahi stated further that the Institute would undertake training of skilled personnel already employed in steel and allied industries, offer advisory services to firms in the implementation of their training programmes, and provide jobs for youths through empowerment with appropriate skills and competences.
“The uniqueness of the Institute is in its practical content.
“The establishment of the Institute has greatly minimized the need to send Nigerians abroad for vocational training and skill acquisition as well as assisting in job creation for artisans, technicians and our teeming unemployed youths.
“In 40 years of the existence, the Institute has trained many Nigerians from six geopolitical zones in the country.
“The Institute was involved in the training of ex-militant of the Niger Delta amnesty Programme. This result was a huge success,” Senator Abdullahi said.
Contributing, Senator Uche Lilian Ekwunife (PDP Anambra Central), drew the attention of the Senate that the Institution ought to be sited in Obosi not Onitsha.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, however, advised the lawmaker to take up the matter with the appropriate authority seeking its establishment for consideration and possible correction at the public hearing on the bill.
The bill, after scaling second reading was referred by the Senate President to the Committee on Solid Minerals, Steel Development and Metallurgy with directive to report back within four weeks.
