29th January, 2018
Hundreds of workers at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan, on Monday trooped out in a procession, vowing to continue with the on-going nation-wide strike.
The research institutes nationwide have been on strike since Nov.14, 2017.
The workers blocked the institute’s main gate, hindering human and vehicular movement into the institute.
They also carried placards with various inscriptions such as “ We want immediate release of research institutes’ conditions of service,” and “Pay our 12 months arrears.’’
Among the demands of the workers are the establishment of National Research Institute Commission and release of the condition of service.
The demands also include adequate funding of research institutes, payment of 12 months arrears of 53.37 percent salary increase and withdrawal of circular on non-skipping of grade level.
Wole Famoriyo, the Chairman of Non-Academic Staff Union of NISER, said that several meetings of leaders of Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions (JORAISU) with the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, on the strike had yielded no positive result.
“Since we can no longer fold our arms, the JORAISU leadership resolved that further actions should be taken to get the attention of the government to the plight of the workers in research institutes.
“In this regard, the meeting resolved that the entire workers in the various branches should embark on a demonstration in their institutes on Monday, Jan. 29, while the press should be invited to cover it,” he said.
Famoriyo also noted that the protest was holding across states of the federation where research institutes were domiciled.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Joint Action Committee of the unions in NISER, Ayotunde Egunjobi, said the strike was the 154th on the issues.
“The first of its kind was held in 2009, and since then nothing has been done. That’s why this one is tagged ‘no retreat no surrender’.
“We will continue with the demonstration till our demands are met, and all activities remain paralysed till government answers us.
“The national protest is still going to take place in Abuja on Feb. 6 if nothing is done by then,” he said.
The protest was held at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and National Horticultural Research Institute, all in Ibadan.