NITR workers protest in Kaduna, embark on warning strike

By : Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna

Date: 12 April 2022 3:09am WAT

Protesters chant and sing solidarity songs as they barricade barricade the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to protest against police brutality and the killing of protesters by the military, at Magboro, Ogun State, on October 21, 2020. - Buildings in Nigeria's main city of Lagos were torched on October 21, 2020 and sporadic clashes erupted after the shooting of peaceful protesters in which Amnesty International said security forces had killed several people. Witnesses said gunmen opened fire on a crowd of over 1,000 people on the evening of October 20, 2020, to disperse them after a curfew was imposed to end spiralling protests over police brutality and deep-rooted social grievances. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

Workers of the National Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR), Kaduna, embarked on three-day warning strike, yesterday, as they protested against poor condition of service.

The NITR staff, who came out en masse with placards, urged the Federal Government to immediately remove the Director-General of NITR and meet their other demands, to save the institute from collapse.

The angry workers, who were at the institute as early as 8:00a.m., sealed all entrances, placing placards with various inscriptions at strategic locations, while chanting songs.

Addressing the workers and journalists at the scene, the Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) in NITR, Moyijo Hussaini, explained that workers’ rights were guaranteed by the provisions the Labour Act 1990 and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, particularly Conventions 27 and 98, which includes right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

According to him, the Academic Staff Union of Research and Educational Institutions (ASURI), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals in Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRAI) and NASU are umbrella for all research and non–research staff in government agencies and allied institutions.

Hassaini said: “These bodies, apart from their primary responsibilities of protecting the interest of its members, are meant to help enhance national economic growth through innovative research and technology intervention in all spheres of our economy.

“But as can be seen in recent times, these objectives have been eroded due to maladministration of our institute. It is disheartening at this point in time when the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, is doing his best to reshape the ministry to achieve the desired goals of President Muhammadu Buhari, the present leadership of NITR is retarding its progress.”

He alleged that the institute’s DG, Dr. Felicia Enwezor, had been creating industrial disharmony, in the institute since her assumption of duty.

The workers, therefore, called on the minister to ensure that Buhari’s directive is carried out to save NITR from imminent collapse.

Meanwhile, the DG could not answer several telephone calls journalists put across to her for reaction on the workers’ protest.