National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said allegations of corruption against the director- general (DG) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) Zaria, Prof Jeffrey Tsware Barminas, are untrue.
NANS said it carried out independent findings and came to the conclusion that the allegations of nepotism, staff victimisation and corruption against Barminas were misleading, untrue, unverified and should be ignored.
A statement issued and made available to newsmen in Kaduna by the secretary-general of the student body, Comrade Usman Baba Kankia said NANS as a responsible organisation and voice of the voiceless sought clarification following the allegations against the DG and discovered that the allegations were a case of giving a dog bad name to hang it.
The statement reads in parts: “Prof. Jeffrey was first appointed DG via a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) dated 18th April, 2017 for a period of 4years, subsequently in appreciation of his sterling performance in office, this appointment was renewed on 24th March, 2021 via a letter signed by the Honorable Minister (State) of Science and Technology.
“It is however unenviable for anybody to suggest that the DG is occupying office illegally as his appointment is subsisting until the expiration of his second tenure. It is imperative to state that since the inception of his tenure, the DG has repositioned NARICT to deliver on the mandate establishing the institution to further research in areas of chemical technology, entrepreneurship, national security and has impacted positively on Nigeria economy.
“Promotion of competency above sectarian consideration and primordial sentiment that has now made NARICT a model for other government agencies to emulate. Under Prof. Jeffrey, national unity and cohesion has been promoted to the high table and staff now have equal opportunity to contribute their quota to advancing the course of the institution.
“Prof. Jeffrey oversaw the construction of the NARICT Nuclear, Biological and Radiological Decontamination Laboratories fitted to treat victims of nuclear, biological and radiological attacks in Nigeria and this has the capacity to assist Nigeria detect nuclear, radioactive and biological attack on the Nation’s territory.
