FIIRO audit, verification exercise has nothing to do with ongoing workers strike action-FIIRO PRO

By allcitynews.ng

The last has not been heard in the on going protest embarked upon my unions at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi.

Latest development reveal the continuous presence of police men who have been very civil in their approach to convince the union leaders to open the premises gates to allow for the continuation of the internal staff audit as mandated by the governing board of the institute.

Members of staff came in large numbers from the beginning of the week to participate in the exercise. Many of them express their readiness for the exercise stating that it is for the good of the institute.

In his comments, while speaking with allcitynews.ng, the head of FIIRO Information and Public Relations, Mr Chris Olumuyiwa, debunked the insinuations by the union that thugs and police men were engaged to break the gates of the institute and to harass them. The audit, according to Olumuyiwa is just internal auditing which has nothing to do with ongoing nationwide industrial action.

While commending the way and manner the security personnel handled the situation, he stated that “The police men were very professional in the discharge of their duties and their presence was very helpful in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere.”

He added that the management of the institute is presently engaging the union executives on possible ways of resolving the impasse.

Earlier today the union executives and the police authorities met at the police command with the resolution for all parties to maintain the peace.

Olumuyiwa said that the present strike action is not peculiar to FIIRO, but a nationwide strike by all research Institutes across the country.

The clarification became imperative in order to give the general public the true pocture of what took place in FIIRO today following the story published by a popular online paper.

Explaining the true side of what happened on Thursday 7 April 2022,
Olumuyiwa said “It has come to the notice of the management of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, stories as published by the Sahara Reporters that hoodlums invaded the premises of FIIRO. Such stories are far from the facts and they are aimed at causing misunderstanding in the institute.”

According to the FIIRO PRO, “members of staff of the institute were the ones that clustered around the gate and not hoodlums. The staff audit has the popular approval of members of staff as evidenced in the large turnout of staff, even those at the out stations.

The Committee for the exercise has taken due diligence to ensure that the exercise took place and at the same time give everybody the opportunity to air their reservations over it.

Furthermore, Olumiyiwa claimed that “to keep the records straight, the on-going strike of the union has nothing to do with the staff audit, neither has FIIRO Board or the Ministry cancelled the 2021 promotion exercise.

“Also, the issue raised on Dr. Chima Igwe is before a competent court and we should not pre-empt the outcome. While we await the outcome it is the general view of the Board that the statusquo should remain.”

Similarly, the PRO reiterated his statement, saying “On the 2021 promotion exercise, neither the governing board or the supervising ministry cancelled the exercise. It was the resolution of the governing board that a true picture of the numerical strength of the institute should be ascertained before giving it’s nod on the promotion exercise. Hence the need for the internal staff audit.”