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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Aggrieved union leaders of the Nigerian Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR), Kaduna held a peaceful protest against the reinstatement of the suspended Overseeing Director General of the institute, Dr. Felicia Chizoba Enwezor
Addressing the press shortly after the protest by the three union leaders of the institute, Moyijo Hussaini, Musa Umar and Rabiu Jibril on Friday, the trio jointly kicked against her reinstatement by the Overseeing minister of science and technology.
“It is disheartening at this point in time when the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Honourable (Senator) Adeleke Mamora refuses to hear the cries of his staff under his supervision in NITR Kaduna.
” But instead decided to imposed the suspended Overseeing Director General Dr. Felicia Chizoba Enwezor who was already suspended by the Governing Council of NITR at their 107th Meeting held on the 22nd July, 2022.
They noted that the suspended Overseeing DG was relieved of her duties because of, “Deliberate failure to carry out the decisions of the Governing Council on Presidential Directives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Ref: SH/COS/16/A/1487).
” As well as recalling over 100 staff on training without due process which
violated the procurement processes”.
The union leaders also noted that her actions were prejudicial to the threat of the Security of State as the Institute was shut down for three days in April, 2022 by the Staff against her alleged bad leadership.
“Refusal to take lawful orders and directives from the constituted authorities as well as leaving her official duty on several occasions without delegating overseeing capacity to the next director of Research in the Institute contrary to Public Service Rules (PSR) 030402.
“Failure to respect and implement Court Order Suit No: NICN/ABJ/297/2021.
Refusal to convene Board Meetings despite Council’s instructions”.
They lamented that” despite all the reasons mentioned above for her suspension by the Governing Council of NITR, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Honourable Senator Adeleke Mamora decided to set aside the decision of the Governing Council and all grievances by Staff of the Institute and reinstated Dr. Felicia Chizoba Enwezor as Overseeing Director General vide a letter with Ref. No FMSTI/HM/2021/005/111/422 dated 23rd August, 2022.
“The Minister also went ahead to disregards the constitutional provisions of the Act Establishing NITR’S Governing Council (CAP 132 Laws of Federation, 2004) which stipulates five (5) years tenure by asking the Alhaji Shehu Haruna Lambu to step aside in order to impose the suspended Overseeing Director General vide the same letter.
“It is on this note the Joint Unions of NITR, Kaduna found it necessary to embark on a peaceful protest against the Minister’s action”.
