Protest Rocks Crin

The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, ASURI, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria branch says their peaceful protest and planned picketing will continue till their demands are acceded to by the Director, Chief executive officer of CRIN, Dr Olayiwola Olubamiwa.

The protest started last week Thursday at the institute headquarters in Ibadan.

The union members, carried placards with inscriptions, affect our promotion arrears when due, rotational headship is a must, ASURI says no to diversion of research funds, ASURI says no to nepotism among others.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, Chairman, ASURI, CRIN branch Dr Kayode Ayegboyin said the union had been having series of dialogue with the management of CRIN without fruitful outcome.

He maintained that the workers who had been feeling the pain could no longer fold their arms and suffer in silence, hence the need for the peaceful protest.

The ASURI, CRIN branch chairman maintained that the protest which was in phases started with the submission of their demands to the management to reply within 21 days, but nothing was heard.

He said the second phase is the peaceful protest currently being embarked on by the members while the last phase would be picketing of offices.

Mr Ayegboyin noted that the Union would continue their agitation till the end of the tenure of the CEO in October adding that the union did not have a grouse with the personality but the office.

Contributing, the national secretary general of ASURI, Dr Theophilus Ndubaku explained that if the issue was not addressed, all research institutes in the country would join in the fight.

Reacting, Director, Chief executive officer of CRIN, Dr Olayiwola Olubamiwa noted that his administration has followed the extant rules of civil service in the discharge of its duties.

Dr Olubamiwa assured the union members that the management was doing everything possible to use its internally generated revenue to settle some outstanding obligations.

He said the management was still open to dialogue with the ASURI union executive to find a lasting solution to the dispute.

Jeffery Ahonmisi