The senate on Wednesday approved the enactment of an enabling law that would enhance the legal status of the Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies which was established about 30 years ago.

The bill is titled, “A bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies to provide for non military career training to personnel of the Nigerian Army and for other matters connected therewith, 2015.”

The sponsor, Senator Kabiru Marafa ( Zamfara Central ) in his lead debate, explained that the bill specifically seeks to provide an enabling law and a legal framework for the operation of the school.

Marafa lamented that the school which was established almost at the same time with the Air force Institute of Technology in Kaduna, has been suffering poor students enrolment because of the absence of the required law.

He argued that the institute, when fully legalised as a corporate body, would have access to funds that could be utilised for the execution of capital projects and research work.

He said, “The Tertiary Education Trust Fund and other intervention agencies have long withdrawn their financial intervention to the institute because of lack of an enabling Act.

“This bill greatly seeks to remove these impediments that have hindered the success of the institute in sourcing funds for its projects.”

He added that the bill, “seeks to raise the infrastructural, academic and administrative standards of the institute.”

Marafa said the bill will greatly improve the standing and capacity of the institute to deliver on its mandate both to the host community and to the nation at large.

Senators Abdul Ningi; Ibrahim Gobir; Aloysius Etok; in their various contributions, stressed the need for the passage of the bill in order to further enhance the performance of the military.

Senate President, David Mark, noted that since the military remained a centre of excellence and development, a legal framework for the operation of the school would go a long way to enhance its operations.

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