From: Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) has intensified agitation for the amendment of 2011 Act that established the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) so that it could recognise Research Institutions as beneficiaries.
To this end, the workers staged a peaceful protest, in Abuja, on Wednesday, to register their displeasure over the delay by relevant government agencies to attend to their needs, particularly in funding and commercializing research works.
Armed with placards with several inscriptions, the workers said they was need for urgent financial intervention and legislative support that would revive the Research institutes, thus providing solutions to socio-economic and food challenges in Nigeria.
Secretary-General of the Union, Dr. Theophilus Ndubuaku, who led the workers to the premises of National Assembly in Three Arms Zone, Abuja, said that the exclusion of Research Institutions from TETFund and other research grants has been responsible for the glorified secondary school status of the institutions.
He said, “It’s so worrisome that no research institution in Nigeria has what it takes to successfully carry out research due to years of abandonment by the government. No basic amenities like electricity, Internet, computers and other things needed to successfully carry out research can be found in our institutions.
“Government is more interested in supporting University researchers through TETFund and other grants, forgetting that universities engage in basic research, while Research institutes have more responsibility of digging deep into a particular course or sector for a durable solution to a particular challenge. Yet, the government has failed to accord us due recognition and support needed to commercialise our research.
“Workers in Research institutes are most impoverished set of workers in Nigeria because they devote more than 50 percent of their personal resources to research. Otherwise, due promotion would elude the fellow.”
Ndubuaku however admitted that Nigerian economy is under recession, but challenged the government to contact the Research Institutions, as they have the adequate manpower to proffer urgent way out of recession, if only the government can offer the needed support.
Aside the demand for TETFund recognition, the workers also demanded that government pays them their outstanding 12 months arrears, approve the reviewed conditions and schemes of service, established a central body for the effective coordination of research activities in Nigeria.
They however vowed to continue their peaceful protest until their demands are met.
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