Senate Committee Commends ITF over Projects, Capacity Building

The members of the Senate Committee on Industry have lauded the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) over its prudent use of budgetary allocations, especially in funding new projects and completing abandoned ones.

The committee led by its Chairman and a former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu, told THISDAY, that the oversight tour was to supervise the ongoing projects to ensure that the appropriated funds are properly utilised.

According to him, the oversight visit is in pursuant of the constitutional responsibility spelt out in section 88(1) and (2), 89(1) and (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

“The purpose of this visit is to conduct assessment on the level of budgetary implementation particularly the 2017/18 approved appropriation.” He affirmed that the vist was the second embarked by the committee.

“The first visit to the funds was at the headquartres in Jos, Plateau State, which was in June 2017. The committee would ask questions as regards to the funds provided for the completion of ongoing projects in area offices as well as the industrial training centres in Lagos.”

He added that the visit would allow them identify with the areas that require more attention in the upcoming 2019 budget.

However, the Senate committee assured the management and staff of ITF of their continuous support in the areas of law making and appropriation, adding that, the committee would not entertain lack of financial prudence, leakages or inefficiency in the midst of paucity of funds in the country.

Egwu commended the conducive industrial training centres for N-power graduate trainees and other skill acquisition centres in ITF for boosting productivity, manpower develop-ment and entrepreneurial skills to make them impactful, trainable and create more Jobs.