Motion: Non-Payment of SIWES Allowance to Students by ITF - Hon. O. K. Chinda

FOURTH REPUBLIC 443
8TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SECOND SESSION
NO. 62

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

NOTICE PAPER

Monday 8 May, 2017

NOTICE OF MOTIONS
1. Urgent Need to Check Non-Payment of SIWES Allowance to Students by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF):
Hon. O. K. Chinda:

The House:

Notes the failure of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to fulfill one of the core mandates for which it was set up, which is the payment of Allowance to Students who have participated in and completed their Students Industrial Work Experience (SIWES);

Also notes that the Industrial Training Fund was established to encourage the acquisition of skills needed for manpower training in the country, and under the SIWES scheme, Students undertake six (6) months and in some cases one (1) year Industrial Training (I.T);

Aware that S. 1(b) of the I.T.F Act provides for payment into the ITF, “funds provided by the Federal Government for the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme,” (SIWES);

Also aware that it is unpatriotic and unconscionable for the ITF or any Government agency to deliberately bring untold hardship to Students by withholding funds that have been released for payment of SIWES Allowances to Students;

Worried that the ITF has failed to fulfill its mandate, as there are allegations of fraud and sharp practices against the ITF National headquarters in Jos, Plateau State, in collaboration with the respective ITF offices nationwide, even though approval and subsequent disbursement of funds for payment of SIWES Allowances were made by the Federal Government;

Also worried that unless urgent and positive steps are taken to check the prevailing sharp practices in the operations of the ITF, Students and Nigerians in general would be continually ripped off;

Resolves to:

Set up an Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate allegation of sharp practices and fraud in the ITF, with emphasis on the utilization of its funds from 2010 to date, and report back to the House within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.