Workers of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) on Monday protested over poor working condition and welfare of members in the agency.
The workers under the auspices of Academic Staff Union of Research Institute (ASURI) also issued a 48 hours ultimatum for the Ministry of Science and Technology to address the challenges of face a shutdown of the ministry.
Chairman of the union, Comrade Ogunmefun Samson, who spoke with Blueprint correspondent at the corporate headquarters of the agency along Airport Road during the protest said workers are working without proper equipment, poor working environment and dilapidated offices.
The union’s leader further alleges that the management of the agency is not remitting Pension deducting from workers salary.
The issues in contention, according to comrade Samson are “good working environment, proper placement, promotion, selection of coordinators be done on merit, provision of toilet facilities, and implementation of agreements signed with the union’’.
The ASURI chairman further said that the working environment at the NABDA is in comma, adding the union would not fold her arm to allow the agency sink.
“This struggle has been on for years, the management is only good at talking when it comes to implementation, it’s difficult and we are tired. We have told them we don’t need any further negotiation, what we want at this point is implementation, we don’t have organogram,
“So we are calling on the relevant authority, the ministry, the government to come to our rescue. This is a peaceful demonstration, and we are using this time to register our displeasure because after now, we are heading to the ministry if nothing is done with immediate effect.
“We are giving the government 48 hours and if after 48 hours nothing is done, they should expect us in the ministry of Science and Technology,’’ he said.
