The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has warned of a possible strike at the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) over unresolved staff welfare issues.
In a resolution signed by the Zaria Branch Chairman and Secretary, Adamu Ibrahim and Bitrus Zaman, the union accused NILEST’s Director-General, Dr. Auwal Imam, of administrative high-handedness and unfair treatment of staff. According to SSANIP, these actions have damaged industrial harmony at the institute.
One of the key issues raised was the recent demotion of Mr. Adamu Ibrahim, the former Deputy Director of Finance and Accounts. The union described this as “a targeted act of victimisation” and symbolic of deeper concerns about the management’s style and disregard for staff welfare.
SSANIP also criticized staff transfers carried out without proper consultation, claiming these changes have disrupted the working environment and broken trust. The union called for the transfers to be reversed in the interest of fairness and due process.
Another major concern is the backlog of unpaid entitlements. The union pointed out that promotion arrears and salaries for staff at NILEST’s extension centres have not been paid since January 2022. It also urged the management to settle repatriation allowances and other outstanding claims, which it described as basic staff rights that should not be delayed.
Furthermore, SSANIP accused the Director-General of bypassing the union on key staff decisions, violating standard industrial relations protocols. The union also demanded the immediate payment of non-accident bonuses owed to drivers, stressing that these form part of their contractual benefits.
The union has given a firm warning: if these demands are not addressed urgently, it may be forced to resume its suspended strike, which could disrupt academic and administrative activities at NILEST.
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