Workers to Shut Down Institute in Niger

The workers under the auspice of the Joint Research and Allied Institutions’ Sector Unions, Ministry of Science and technology have threatened to shut down the Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI) Minna as long as the federal govt reappoints the immediate past Managing Director, Prof. Mohammed Ndaliman.

Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, 4th of February, 2020, the union made up of the Academic staff Union of Research Institute (ASURI) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Research Institute (NASURI) in Minna, through their union leaders said,

‘‘We have passed a vote of confidence in the acting managing director, Mr. Muhammed Shaba, who is an internal member of staff.’’

In response to the development, Ndaliman who spoke through the institutes’ Information Officer, Bashir Kotangora, informed northern city news in a telephone interview, that there was no basis for the protest embarked upon by the union.

‘‘To the best of my knowledge, what they are saying is only an indication that they don’t like Ndaliman,

‘‘It is true that his first tenure ended in 2019, but a Chief Executive has not been appointed for the institute. I do not see the reason for this.’’ he said’.

In a press release jointly signed by the Chairman, ASURI, Mr. Ugwu Chinedu, and Chairman, NASU, Ahmed Adamu, the union said,

‘‘we have resolved and passed a vote of no confidence in immediate past Managing Director.

‘‘Any attempt to reappoint or impose in any guise the immediate past Managing Director/Chief Executive of SEDI-Minna of the institute will be totally resisted, using all available industrial dispute resolution mechanisms available to the joint union and staff of the institute.

‘‘Wherever a vacancy exists for the position of Managing Director, priority should be given to the internal staff members with prerequisite qualifications from the institute.’’