NITR Unions Kick Against Report On Workers’ Intimidation, Financial Misconduct

The Joint Unions of the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR), Kaduna, have dismissed allegations of staff intimidation, financial misappropriation, irregular recruitment and widespread redundancy.

The unions comprising the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association (SSA) dismissed the allegations that operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) intimidated senior staff of the institute.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna during the weekend, the joint Chairman of the unions, Umar Musa, faulted the publication, describing it as one-sided and not verified by the institute, contrary to standard journalistic practice.

Musa explained that the officer, who reportedly denied access to her office, had earlier been redeployed to the North-East Zonal Office in Gombe, as per a formal letter dated 4 March 2026.

He added that the officer had already handed over her responsibilities in line with Public Service Rules and was only in Kaduna to attend to a matter at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), insisting that her presence did not justify resumption of duties at her former office.

According to him, management acted within its administrative powers to maintain order and ensure smooth operations within the institute.

The unions also dismissed claims of irregular recruitment of 92 staff, describing the allegation as false and premature.

He explained that no recruitment exercise could be concluded at this stage of the year, as necessary approvals and waivers had not been secured.

On reports that over 900 staff had abandoned their duties, he also rejected the claim, describing it as malicious and intended to damage the institute’s reputation.

He stressed that NITR remains actively engaged in research on neglected tropical diseases, including sleeping sickness and river blindness, with ongoing field operations in Bauchi, Ondo, Bayelsa and Gombe States.

He acknowledged the challenges posed by delays in the federal government’s release of capital funds, noting that these delays have affected the scale and pace of research activities, particularly fieldwork and project implementation.

He urged members of the public and the media to exercise caution and ensure balanced reporting, warning against narratives that could undermine the credibility of national research institutions.