Lab workers in Ibadan protest against non-implementation of 2013 pact with FG
FIIRO continues strike in Lagos
WORKERS of the Nigeria Institute of Science Laboratory (NISLT), Ibadan, yesterday protested against the non-implementation of their 2013 pact with the Federal Government.
The workers, who have been on strike since November 14, 2017, staged a peaceful protest at the institute in Ibadan.
They chided the Federal Government for failing to recognise the importance of research in the health sector.
The Chairman of the Ibadan chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Allied Institutions, Emmanuel Owoyemi, lamented the slow response of the Federal Government.
He accused the Federal Government of poor funding of research institutes across the country.
The workers insisted that they would not call off the strike until government honours all the agreement they reached five years ago.
Owoyeni said the union had exhausted all necessary steps to make the government to recognise the importance of research institutes.
He explained that the workers’ seven-point demands include: “Payment of 12 months arrears of 53.3 per cent wage increase since 2009, special condition of service for staff of research institutes, and adequate funding of the institutions.
Others are withdrawal of circular on non-skipping of grade level 10, retirement age of 65 years for nonresearch staff as obtained in the university, and peculiar allowance/earned allowances.
The workers are also calling for the establishment of a central body to be known as NARICOM, to fund research institutes across the country.
In Lagos, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, (FIIRO), Oshodi branch yesterday continued its 10-week old strike.
The workers, under the auspices of the Joint Unions of Research Institutes and Allied Institutions, had embarked on the strike since November 14, 2017.
The strikes have since grounded activities at the research and agriculture institutions in the country.
Chairman of the FIIRO branch of the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutions and Associated institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), John Odoh, condemned government’s insensitivity to their demands.
Odoh disclosed that the unions are waiting for government’s promised memo that approved the payment of the arrears, noting that the issue had been discussed and resolved at the National Assembly.
Also, the FIIRO branch Secretary of the NonAcademic Staff Union of Research Institutes, Kehinde Michael, disclosed that the strike, which clocked 78 days yesterday, would continue until their demands are met.