Strike: FG Holds Conciliation Meeting With Researchers.

Strike: FG Holds Conciliation Meeting With Researchers.

The Minister of Labour and Employment; Dr Chris Ngige will today hold conciliation meeting with members of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutes (ASURI). To persuade them from embarking on strike.

The union had written to the minister; threatening to embark on nationwide strike from October 22, over poor funding of research institutes.

However, in a response written to the union dated 17 October, 2017. The minister agreed to meet the union by 3:00pm today.

It would be recalled; that the workers had in a letter to; President Muhammadu Buhari. And copied to the minister raised concerns on the “Many challenges facing research institutions in Nigeria. And called for immediate intervention.”

The letter, dated October 12, signed by the Secretary General of ASURI, Dr Theophilus Ndubuaku, said: “The fact that there is no budget line for research and development in the budget of R&D institutions is an indication that the government functionaries do not appreciate that no country develops without R&D. There are budget lines for capital, personnel emolument etc but not research. Research managers; are usually; handicapped; and cannot easily veer votes. Since research depends on the crumbs. Researchers; are left with no choice; than to fund their research projects from their meagre salary.”

The union also threatened to embark on indefinite strike action; over what it described as refusal of government to suspend; the Director of BIODEC, Odi and; the Director General (DG) of National Biotechnology Development Centre (NABDA); over allegations of corruption.