Staff Welfare: Labour Unions Begin Negotiation With FIIRO

Trade union leaders at the Federal Institute for Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), who had earlier prevented federal government officials from entering the premises of the agency in Lagos, following ongoing industrial action, have embraced the agenda presented by the new director general of the institute.

President Muhammadu Buhari recently appointed Adamu Tutuwa as the substantive director-general and chief executive officer of the institute at the heat of a nationwide strike action by research institutes across the country.

In line with directive of the apex body of the Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions (JORAISU), including the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) and the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), union officials had put barricade at the FIIRO gates preventing workers and negotiating team from the federal government from accessing the complex.

Citing federal government’s alleged failure to implement the 10-year agreement reached with relevant unions since 2010, research institutes across the federation, had embarked on an indefinite strike.

They said the 30-day ultimatum was spurned by the government, prompting the industrial action.

Labour’s demands include; payment of 12-month Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS) arrears of 53.37 per cent increase, withdrawal of circular on non-skipping of salary Grade Level 10 (NICN judgment in favour of trade unions and others), retirement age of 65 years for non-research staff as obtainable in the universities and others, as well as peculiar and earned allowances, adequate funding of research institutes and release of scheme/conditions of service, among others.

In his address, Lagos state council chairman of NASU, Oladejo Olawole, said the strike was long over due.
He urged the government to take research serious due to its importance to the economy.
But in a rare show of solidarity, the unions embraced Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, who was at the complex for a second phase of stakeholders meeting in Lagos during which she vowed not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that FIIRO’s positive impact is further felt by Nigerians in their everyday socio economic life.
Our correspondent who visited the complex observed a mutual interface between the DG and the institute management as well as representatives of the unions.
While inspecting the facilities on ground at the institute, Tutuwa stressed the need for all hands to be on deck in order to ensure maximum yields from the expertise and technical knowhow of FIIRO’s members of staff.
She stressed the need for all and sundry to embrace cordial office place relationship, promising that all grey areas will be addressed and that she will adequately motivate and reward hard work and best practices.
She was quick to add that management will not condone indolence, tribalism or vices that will not promote the corporate goodwill of the institute.
Recall that the director general met with executives of the three unions in the institute where their reservations and expectations were tabled.
In her response, the director general requested for time to digest the various observations and requests with a promise to present them where applicable to the governing board of the institute for long lasting solutions.
Tutuwa, an associate professor of BioChemistry was appointed by the federal government of Nigeria for a five year nonrenewable tenure. Until her appointment, she held sway as the director in charge of the National Biotechnology Development Agency.
Speaking with our correspondent on the position of the Unions, Mrs. Ogunleye NASU chairperson at FIIRO, said: “we are confident in the commitment expressed by the director general. She has promised to look into our demands and we believe in her and she appear to be a sincere person.
We believe in negotiations and that is why we removed the blockade to allow her negotiate with us.”We don’t want to lock her out even though its a national issue but FIIRO had existed since 1956, we want to leave legacy for our children and we don’t want to destroy their future. We want our research to help in industrialisation of the country.”
LEADERDHIP reports that recently some officials from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Abuja, FIIRO’s supervisory ministry, who were at FIIRO for a routine internal staff audit were denied access to the premises of the agency by some of the embattled trade union executives.
The routine staff audit, involves a physical presentation of all staff to determine those who are no longer in service as a result of retirement, dismissal or death and to equally determine those staff that have upgraded their training to showcase their credentials for promotion.
demands include; payment of 12-month Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS) arrears of 53.37 per cent increase, withdrawal of circular on non-skipping of salary Grade Level 10 (NICN judgment in favour of trade unions and others), retirement age of 65 years for non-research staff as obtainable in the universities and others, as well as peculiar and earned allowances, adequate funding of research institutes and release of scheme/conditions of service, among others.
In his address, Lagos state council chairman of NASU, Oladejo Olawole, said the strike was long over due.
He urged the government to take research serious due to its importance to the economy.
But in a rare show of solidarity, the unions embraced Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, who was at the complex for a second phase of stakeholders meeting in Lagos during which she vowed not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that FIIRO’s positive impact is further felt by Nigerians in their everyday socio economic life.
Our correspondent who visited the complex observed a mutual interface between the DG and the institute management as well as representatives of the unions.
While inspecting the facilities on ground at the institute, Tutuwa stressed the need for all hands to be on deck in order to ensure maximum yields from the expertise and technical knowhow of FIIRO’s members of staff.
She stressed the need for all and sundry to embrace cordial office place relationship, promising that all grey areas will be addressed and that she will adequately motivate and reward hard work and best practices.
She was quick to add that management will not condone indolence, tribalism or vices that will not promote the corporate goodwill of the institute.
Recall that the director general met with executives of the three unions in the institute where their reservations and expectations were tabled.
In her response, the director general requested for time to digest the various observations and requests with a promise to present them where applicable to the governing board of the institute for long lasting solutions.
Tutuwa, an associate professor of BioChemistry was appointed by the federal government of Nigeria for a five year nonrenewable tenure. Until her appointment, she held sway as the director in charge of the National Biotechnology Development Agency.
Speaking with our correspondent on the position of the Unions, Mrs. Ogunleye NASU chairperson at FIIRO, said: “we are confident in the commitment expressed by the director general. She has promised to look into our demands and we believe in her and she appear to be a sincere person.
We believe in negotiations and that is why we removed the blockade to allow her negotiate with us.”We don’t want to lock her out even though its a national issue but FIIRO had existed since 1956, we want to leave legacy for our children and we don’t want to destroy their future. We want our research to help in industrialisation of the country.”
LEADERDHIP reports that recently some officials from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Abuja, FIIRO’s supervisory ministry, who were at FIIRO for a routine internal staff audit were denied access to the premises of the agency by some of the embattled trade union executives.
The routine staff audit, involves a physical presentation of all staff to determine those who are no longer in service as a result of retirement, dismissal or death and to equally determine those staff that have upgraded their training to showcase their credentials for promotion.
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