CRIN crisis: Workers write FG, dismiss unions ban

Employees of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria have written to the Federal Government over the crisis that has engulfed the institute since July. The letter, dated October 28, was signed by the General Secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, Peters Adeyemi, and General Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institute and Associated Institutions, Michael Akinade. It was addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim. It highlighted the sequence of events leading to the present stage, where research activities have been paralysed, accusing the institute’s Governing Board chairman, Francis Fadaunsi, of threatening the workers and reiterating the call for Executive Director, MalachyAkoroda, to be removed for lack of managerial skill and alleged mismanagement of N154m research funds. The letter alleged that after the visit of the chairman on October 22, which witnessed violent scenes, the lives of union executive members and their families had been in danger. It read in part, “On October 22, the chairman invited union leaders to a meeting in Ibadan. As the meeting progressed, a report reached the union leaders that an Armoured Personnel Carrier had been positioned at the CRIN gate. “The attention of the chairman was drawn to the report but he dismissed the report. In the afternoon, the chairman came to the institute with armed policemen, APCs and political thugs as workers were prepared to welcome him. The thugs jumped in through the gate and vandalised the lock. “OyewoleOlaoluwa and Charles Ehimmen, who are members of staff, were injured in the process.”