People usually acknowledge journalists last. However, this is a press conference, so let me first greet the gentlemen of the press present here today. You have been our partners-in-progress, so we can’t ever thank you enough.
I greet our co-hosts of this event, the representatives of the Civil Society Coalition for Research Funding and Strategies for National Transformation. I also welcome my colleagues in the Central Working Committee (CWC) of ASURI and the members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASURI.
Gentlemen of the press, the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) unionizes and represents the interests of Research Fellows in all Federal Research and Development Institutions (RDIs), Inter-University Centres, and Allied Institutions and Colleges. As a major stakeholder trade union in the Research and Development sector of the economy, we see the welfare of our members and the welfare of the entire system.
It took ASURI, as well as the sister unions in the sector, 15 years to negotiate the Conditions of Service for Federal Research and Development Agencies, Institutes and Colleges (COS 2019), which was approved by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) on the 7th of November 2020, with retroactive effect from January 2019. The Federal Government has since adopted it and put it into use. We cannot ever thank the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (FMSTI), not only for directing all the agencies under its supervision to implement COS 2019 but also for practicing what it preaches by following due process as laid down in the Conditions of Service in the appointment of Chief Executive Officers for the agencies.
This, to a large extent, has been responsible for the relative peace, progress, and industrial harmony being experienced in many of the Research Institutes under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST) in recent years. We are referring to Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, Federal Institute for Industrial Research (FIIRO), National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), as well as National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), among others. These agencies, as ably led by qualified and experienced Researchers who are home-grown in the sector, have returned to fulfilling their mandates.
You will all recall that for over three years, FIIRO was embroiled in a crisis during which it experienced musical chairs at the apex of its Management. During that period, that premier agency was like a battlefield, and the situation persisted until the appointment of the present Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. (Mrs.) Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, mid-2022, in full compliance with the Conditions of Service for Research and Development Agencies, Institutes, and Colleges (COS 2019).
You will all agree that since then, the vibes emanating from FIIRO has been positive, posting results that make the stakeholders happy.
As part of its advocacy for the enthronement of sanity in the Research and Development Institutes (RDIs) sector, the leadership of ASURI initiated the process of assessing the Research Institutes and Agencies within its jurisdictional scope by sending delegates to monitor and observe developments. In line with this, the Visitation Committee to the Federal Institute of Industrial Research at Oshodi, Lagos, did an on-the-spot assessment of developments at the agency and interacted with the ASURI Branch EXCO and members at FIIRO.
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The committee, led by the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) branch of ASURI, Comrade (Dr.) Sam Olufemi Amao included the Chairman of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Badagry Branch, Comrade (Dr.) Abiola Aiyeola, the Secretary of the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) Chapter of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) Branch, Abeokuta, Comrade Abiodun Soyoye, all representing the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union, as well as delegates from ASURI Headquarters.
It is pleasing to report that within 19 months of being in the saddle as the Chief Executive of FIIRO, Dr. (Mrs.) Jummai A. Tutuwa has performed excellently, such that the local branch of ASURI has passed a vote of confidence in her leadership. To the leadership of ASURI, this is a vote of confidence in the Conditions of Service, which the union insists on in appointing Chief Executives. COS 2019 ensures that the round peg is put in the round hole, which suits the system. It is a vote of confidence in the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and a call on the other Ministries to follow suit.
Upon assumption of office, the Director General has undertaken diverse but positive initiatives ranging from her accomplishments to those currently in progress. It is worthy of note that upon assumption of office, the DG fought doggedly and ensured that the Act establishing FIIRO was passed into law in less than a year of implementing its process from the National Assembly to the final ascent by Mr. President.
Dr. Mrs. Tutuwa took a bold step in the repositioning and restoration of FIIRO’s position as a frontline research institute in Nigeria to the extent that FIIRO was awarded the first position at the Science, Technology, and Innovation Expo 2023.
She repositioned and restored the FIIRO Website, which now meets international standards and aligns with the Federal Government’s guidelines for Government websites. She has ensured the optimization of project management at FIIRO.
Many of the dilapidated structures, which were in a shabby state and almost inhabitable, have been rehabilitated. The Institute’s headquarters and stations nationwide are wearing new looks today. Some of the projects which have been renovated are:
- The rehabilitation of the multi-purpose building to a state-of-the-art multi-purpose hall;
- Renovation of FIIRO Canteen;
- Rehabilitation and equipping and furnishing of FIIRO Exhibition and Entrepreneurship Centre, Abuja;
- Establishment of ICT Resource Centre (LOT A1);
- Rehabilitation of research laboratories, workshops, and offices;
- Upgrading of the institute’s electrical facility to enhance Research and Development;
- Acquisition and equipment of FIIRO’S Exhibition Centre in FIIRO Lagos office;
- Renovation of the old administrative building;
- Rehabilitation of POD Engineering Building;
- Construction and furnishing of Community Health Centre in Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Oyo State; and
- Renovation of 3 NOS Pilot plants for completed laboratory projects.
The exciting thing about the leadership of Dr. Mrs. Tutuwa is that her good works are felt at FIIRO offices across the country as evident in the construction of Skill Acquisition Centre at the Agbor office in Delta State, acquisition of a transformer and renovation of the building at South-West Zonal Office, Owode; completion and equipping of cassava processing plant in Nasarawa State; as well as the development of research laboratories/workshop in Langtang, among others.
Her tenure has witnessed the payment of outstanding promotion arrears, which piled up from the 2018, 2019, and 2020 promotion years. All of these have been cleared under the watch of Dr. (Mrs.) Tutuwa, as promised during her maiden meeting with staff.
Using her administrative acumen, she resolved all the controversies surrounding the 2021 promotion exercise, and its implementation was released by the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (FMSTI), as it was then called. In the same vein, the 2022 and 2023 promotion exercises were dusted while only the results of the 2023 exercise are being awaited, and we have no reason to doubt that it will be positive without issues.
Under her watch, payment has been made to provide complete internet services at all FIIRO offices nationwide.
Going by her background as a Research and Development-oriented person, massive funding of research projects has attracted the attention of the Chief Executive such that at FIIRO, it is a new lease of life for Research Fellows, adding that it promises to get better under her watch.
ASURI, therefore, passes a vote of confidence in the capacity of the Director General/CEO of FIIRO, Dr. (Mrs.) Jummai A. Tutuwa, to continue her good works as many have described her appointment as God-sent because of how she has touched the lives of staff, management, and affairs of the institute.
Gentlemen of the Press, thank you for your time.
Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, fcss, fnli
Secretary General, ASURI