The joint unions of the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR) have demanded that the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Adeleke Mamora, transmits report of Governing Council’s interview for new NITR Director General/CE to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The NITR joint unions in a press conference in Kaduna also warned the minister to stop forcing on the institute the overseeing Director General/CE, Dr. Felicia Nneka Enwezor, who was suspended in July, 2022 for gross misconduct by the Governing Council of NITR.
They said the Overseeing DG/CE appointed by the Governing Council Dr. Ajakaiye Joseph Joachim has ensured that NITR enjoyed a new lease of life, hence the need to quickly transmit the interview report to President Buhari for appointment of a substantive DG/CE.
The chairman NITR Joint Unions, who doubles as chairman Academic Staff Union of Research Institute (ASURI), Comrade Moyijo Hussaini said, “Dr. Enwezor has been suspended as the Overseeing Director General/CE NITR, Kaduna on the 21st July, 2022 at the Governing Council’s 107th meeting for gross misconduct and appointed Dr. Joseph Joachim Ajakaiye being the next most senior Director of Research in the Institute in line with the extant rules and regulations of the service.
He further said that since her suspension, the institute is enjoying a smooth running and relative peace.
“Since then, the Honourable Minister FMST&I Senator Adeleke Mamora has been aggrieved by what the council did and decided to implore all means to restore the suspended Overseeing Director General/CE with his ignorable refusal to transmit the recently conducted interview for the position of the substantive Director General/CE NITR, Kaduna as directed by President Muhammad Buhari.”
Comrade Umar Musa, Chairman Senior Staff Association (SSA) states unequivocally that the National Industrial Court (NICN) Abuja has declared a judgement dated 18th Day of May, 2022 that the purported appointment, constitution and inauguration of the new Governing Council led by Engr. Nuraini Abdullahi Adamu is malicious, illegal and liable to be nullified.
“The court further restrained Engr. Nuraini’s Council from acting, conducting or parading themselves as members of the Governing Council of NITR”.
“However, as regards to the Tenure’s expiration of the Rt. Hon.Shehu Haruna Lambu’s led council dated 7th March, 2023, the Honourable Minister and the Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (FMST&I) are to inform Mr. President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces seeking approval for the constitution and inauguration of a new council”.
COV/Adamu Yusuf