Striking workers of the Nigeria Institute of Science Laboratory (NISLT) Ibadan, on Monday protested against failure of the Federal government to honour agreement reached with staff of various research institutes across the country in 2013 which borders on funding, conditions of service for research institutes workers and retirement age among others.
The workers who have been on strike since November 14 2017 in a nationwide strike to press home their demands declared that they will continue to stay at home unless government of the day fulfil its own part of the agreement reached with research institutes workers across the nation.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Allied Institutions, NISLT Ibadan chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Owoyemi informed that it was unfortunate that the government of the day could not recognize research as a driver of the economy.
Owoyemi while speaking with journalists said, “Let them known that we are on strike, let them know that research institutes have to be funded, me them know that member of staff are not happy, let them know that you can only drive the economy through research and technology.
“Let them know that government must know the importance of research, because, you cannot, even the corruption we are fighting you have to fight if even from here. Well we are happy to work for the government. That is why we want you to help us pass the message to the government. We started this strike since 14 of November last year. On the the money they are owing us since 2009 and the government has reached an agreement with us. As we are speaking, they are yet to pay it. All the agreements they reached with us, there is no one they have fulfil. And we are now saying that if government wasn’t to bring about change, they have to honour their own agreement. They need to honour what we have agreed upon. That is why we are now on strike and protesting”.
Owoyemi then revealed the seven point demands of workers as follows:
“Payment of 53.3 wage increase of workers of research institutes since 2009.
“Special condition of service for staff of research institutes.
“Adequate funding of research institutes.
“Earned allowance of staff.
“Withdrawal of circular on non-skipping by the federal government as well as establishment of a central body to be known as NARICOM to fund research institutes across the country.
Owoyemi while speaking further informed that failure of the government to meet their demands will mean that workers of research institutes across the nation would continue to sit at home.
He said that workers were on strike because strike action is the only language the government understands.
” That is why we are on strike because that is the only language the government understands”.
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