By Eunice Orike
The controversy surrounding the leadership of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) in Ilorin has taken a new turn, as representatives of three workers’ unions at the institute have petitioned the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, alleging gross mismanagement and abuse of office by the Director-General of the institution, Com. Issa Aremu.
The unions, comprising the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), has listed 18 allegations against the Director-General, including mismanagement of funds, poor administrative skills, and infringement on workers’ rights.
According to the petition, the Director-General has failed to submit the institute’s audited financial statements to the Auditor General of the Federation for three years, contrary to financial regulations.
The petition also alleges that the Director-General has concealed and diverted receipts, and misappropriated public funds for personal use.
Furthermore, the petition accuses the Director-General of poor administrative skills, including embarking on trips without delegation of responsibilities, frequent travelling without approval, and lack of civil communication skills.
The Director-General has also been accused of promoting casualization and outsourcing, denying regular staff capacity building opportunities, and verbally assaulting officers.
The petition also alleges that the Director-General has embarked on building projects without Tender’s Board approval, and has initiated phantom projects such as a non-functional clinic and wasteful deployment of resources.
The petition also states that in the 2023 Appropriation Act, the sum of N50,000,000.00 was appropriated and released for the training of youths from the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. However, only N15,000,000.00 was disbursed to the department that implemented the programme. The remaining amount remains unaccounted for.
Dubious claims of digitization and automation of the Institute’s library as well as non-availability of current information resources to support teaching, learning, and research.
Phantom and bogus projects such as non-functional clinic, unrelenting printing of branded t-shirts at unconscionable rates, wasteful deployment of resources to mark largely irrelevant commemorative days like Nelson Mandela Day, World Teachers, Day, etc., at the expense of regular programmes, and endless media blitz and propaganda which are aimed at masking the reality of the situation in MINILS and foisting of false narrative.
The workers’ unions have urged the Minister to intervene and consider a candidate with cognate experience and working understanding of the institute’s mandate and public service framework for the Director-General position.
“Hon. Minister ma,the above-mentioned cases of rot are negatively impacting our ability to perform our duties as members of staff of the Institute who are expected to drive the mandate of the Institute towards the attainment of the renewed hope agenda of the present administration, thereby contributing to the national productivity.
It is certain that the DG has run out of the needed skills, vigour, and motivation required to administer an educational and allied institution of MINILS’ status in contemporary times.
considering the foregoing and with his tenure coming to an end in a few weeks, it becomes imperative to draw the attention of the Hon. Minister to the state of MINILS so as to serve as a guide towards any recommendation and or consideration for renewal of tenure of the current DG.
Having observed the trend and implications of all the issues, the unions’ efforts to make him view them from administrative and public service perspectives were mostly rebuffed, as he was never willing to honour the outcome of any social dialogue, whether in person or whenever he delegates senior management staff.
It is apparent that the institute will not be able to survive another tenure of the same administrative style.
In the light of this, we strongly recommend that Mr. President should consider a candidate with cognate experience and working understanding of the mandate of the Institute, and public service framework, which is best sourced from within the Institute.”, the petition explained.
