NASU- NACETEM CAUTIONS MINISTER OVER DG APPOINTMENT

By Abisola Ariwodola,

 

Non- Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) of the National Center for Technology Management, NACETEM have cautioned the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, Mr. Ikechukwu Ikoh to be guided on the appointment of Director General for NACETEM.

This is as the Union pinpointed its moves on notifying the minister of his hasty actions which was not in the interest of National Center for Technology Management NACETEM, Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and innovation FMSTI, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria as a whole.

This was disclosed in a release signed by the NASU-NACETEM Branch Chairman: Comrade Olumide Fadakinte, NASU_NACETEM Secretary: Comrade Taiwo Adesiyan and the Treasurer: Comrade Ayodele Odu.

According to the released letter, stakeholders are not pleased with how the Minister of State, Mr. Ikoh sidelined the due process established for the appointment of the agency Director General, It frowned at the parallel committee formed by Minister Ikoh to destabilized the already established and recommended process.

It stated that they are aware of stakeholders meeting which included Minister Ikechukwu Ikoh himself and the Honorable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Olorunmibe Mamora among others.

“We are aware that a gentleman agreement was reached by all parties at the meeting for the progress in question to progress and end successfully, having established that the original process was legitimate and credible.’’

‘’we are aware that you jettisoned the gentleman agreement and insisted that things had to be done your own way and not in any other way, regardless of what the rules say about the subject matter. You called for applications to be submitted to your office and singlehandedly set up a committee to take over the recruitment process, despite the existence of the Governing Board at NACETEM.’’

‘’we are aware that concerned Nigerians who understood the imminent unpalatable consequences of your efforts at carrying out a kangaroo selection of a Chief Executive for NACETEM and other sister agencies under the FMSTI Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation FMSTI, sought legal intervention to prevent you from leading the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation FMSTI into illegality and plunging the affected Agencies with illegitimacy of leadership.’’

That, ‘’despite the aforementioned efforts, to manage your over indulgence, you have shown your non readiness to listen to the many voices of reason and logic alongside your chosen parallel committee which include:Dr, Jummai Tutuwa/DG FIIRO, Barr, (Mrs) Oju Thomas Y.U /Director of Legal, Mr Bassey M.E.J/DCT/SA/HMSTI, Mrs Aileru Abosede Jumoke /HRM, Mrs Anyakwo H.N /Director for Special Duties, Engr (Dr) Patrick O/TA /OPS Perm Sec, Engr lbiam Oguejiofo/ SA/HMSSTI, Prof Azikiwe Onwughalu/ VC President, Africa University of Science and Muhammed Ndakolo, Director, PRPA, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Director of the Department supervising NACETEM in the Ministry.

“We are therefore, not only disappointed but totally dismayed by your impertinence to the voices of reason, and also at your contempt towards the Honorable Courts of the Land.”

NASU_NACETEM averred that writing the letter was essential because, ‘’despite the papers served to the minister by a competent court jurisdiction, inviting you to prove that your action in setting up another committee to oversee the appointment of a substantive DG/CEO for NACETEM and others did not contravene extant rules and guidelines, you are hell bent on seeing your intentions through.’’

That, ‘’despite being advised to let reason prevail, you choose to ram your intentions through. An act which will eventually throw the agencies into both administrative and legal crisis in the future.’’

The Union therefor listed its prayers as: nothing short of transparent, lawful and objective recruitment process for the appointment of DG/CEO. Submit yourself and agree to the extant rules guiding the appointment of a DG/CEO for an agency that has a Governing Board in place, and also to submit to the rule of law by honoring the invitation by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction.

NASU-NACETEM opined that failure to yield to voice of reason, the extant rules and guidelines, and the Rule of Law will pitch the union against the Minister of State for Federal Ministry of Science, technology and Innovation, Mr. Ikechukwu Ikoh.

The Comrade Olumide Fadakinte led Union maintained that it will resist within the ambits of the law, any attempt to impose an unpopular and ‘arrangee’ Chief executive on the Federal government agency and its workforce.

It asked Minister Ikoh to reconsider his single-minded stance of unacceptable recruitment process which could lead to instability and protracted crisis, saying that any candidate appointed illegally will be seen and treated as illegitimate.

It can be recalled that a Human Rights Activists, Comrade Adedayo Aborisade, sued the Minister of State, for Science, Technology and Innovation, Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, for allegedly nullifying the recruitment process of a substantive Director-General of the National Centre for Technology Management, before a Court of Competent Jurisdiction.