The Joint Unions of Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis Research (NITR), Kaduna have staged a protest against the re -instatement of Overseeing Director General Dr. Mrs Felicia Chizoba Enwezor.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the protest, the spokesperson of the union, Chairman, Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis Research, (NITR) Mallam Mohijo Hussain said there are several issues that need to be straighten out for the healthy development of the institution.
They are calling on the Minister, Science and Technology, Dr. Adeleke Mamora to respect court judgement passed on the 18th of May, 2022 by industrial court of Nigeria on the suspension of the overseeing DG Dr. Felicia by the governing council.
His interferance they see as compounding their problems.
The union wonders why the Director General that have been suspended by the legal Council of Nigeria will be brought back.
According to them,
“It is disheartening at this point in time when the Minister of Science, Technology and innovation Sen. Adeleke Mamora refuses to hear the cries of his staff under his supervision in NITR and decided to impose the suspended overseeing Director General, Dr. Felicia Chizoba Enwezor who was already suspended by the Governing Council of NITR at their meeting held last July.
“The reason for her re- en statement we are not convinced.
The same Ministry of Science and Technology has inaugurated another council, setting aside the provision of the 2004 constitution which states 5yrs tenure of service but what is being witness today is the re – instatement of NITR overseeing Director, Mrs. Felicia Chizoba Enwezor.
“As citizens, we are here to carry out our constructional rights. To carry out peaceful protest with regards to the problems facing our great institute. Problems like disorganization, manipulations.
The suspended overseeing Director General, Dr. Felicia Chizoba Enwezor was relieved of her duties based on some misconducts amongst which includes the following.
Deliberate failure to carry out the decisions of the Governing Council on presidential directives of the federal republic of Nigeria. ( Ref: SH/COS/16/A/1487).
She was also accused of recalling over 100 staff on training without due process.
Lamenting, Hussain informed that despite all efforts made to make things right non yielded positive results.
“We have written petitions to the national assembly, both the red and green chamber, including the Department of State Security Services DSS as well as to the supervisory body, Ministry of Science and Technology on the issue but to no avail.
Still explaining, he said.
“Our rights as workers has been redeemed by the provision of labour act, 1990 and the international Labour Organization Conversation particularly conversation 87 and 98 on the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining.
The research institution caption of 1964 which established the institution he explained gives it the mandate to conduct research in Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis Research.
It is also to eradicate tsetse fly and black fly.
The peaceful protest which took place outside the institution’s premises raised some other issues which it called on the federal government and relevant stakeholders to look into and do the needful.
the federation, 2004 which stipulates 5years tenure for NITR Governing Council as such should be terminated.
Cov Adamu Yusuf
