On Thursday, workers in research institutes in Ibadan held a peaceful rally in connection with the ongoing nationwide strike by the Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions (JORAISU).

The institutes involved include the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) and the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN). Others are the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), National Centre For Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) and Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T).

The workers, who started the rally at NIHORT, marched to FRIN, Alesinloye Market, and other designated places in Ibadan.

A representative of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutes (ASURI), Kayode Ayegboyin, noted at the rally that ASURI had been on strike since December 2020.

Mr Ayegboyin explained that the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHURIAI) joined the strike on October 12.

He noted that the institutes involved security operatives, including the police, to ensure a peaceful rally.

The representative of NASU, Sunday Abiodun, said the rally would continue until November.

“In all, about five rallies will be held. The strike is an indefinite one declared upon by our national body, and we in Ibadan have no option than to obey. We will continue until our demands are met,” he said.

Similarly, according to the representative of SSAUTHURIAI, Raphael Omolaiye, the institutes are demanding one-year arrears of 53.37 per cent salary increment since 2009 and immediate conclusion of the review of conditions/scheme of service.

“We are also demanding withdrawal of the retrogressive circular on non-skipping of Grade Level 10 and establishment of National Research Institutes Commission, among others,” Mr Omolaiye said. 

(NAN)