By Sola Ogundipe
Operations at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) are set to be disrupted following the declaration of an immediate total and indefinite strike by the Institute’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) over what it describes as the “unlawful” retirement of senior research directors.
Stating the development in a notice to the Director General of NIMR, the union stated that picketing of the Institute will proceed without further notice, and the formal activation of a trade dispute over alleged violations of the 2019 Conditions of Service.
The notice, signed by the Secretary-General, ASURI, Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, reads in part, “The National Secretariat of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) notes with profound disappointment your decision to issue retirement letters to Research/Academic Cadre Directors based on the eight-year tenure policy.
“This action, taken despite our formal advisory dated 3rd March 2026, is compounded by an
unconscionable plot to throw these high-caliber scientists and their families onto the streets through a directive to vacate official quarters. Such maneuvers constitute a direct betrayal of the cooperative posture ASURI has maintained to ensure industrial harmony at the Institute.
“We find it deeply regrettable that, as a former Vice-Chancellor, you have allowed administrative matters concerning academic staff to be dictated by the Director of Administration. In a university environment, which mirrors our statutory framework, such matters are overseen by an Academic Professor as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) to prevent the exact malice and bitterness currently exhibited toward academic staff at NIMR.
“By allowing the Internal Management Committee — which should be populated by academic directors — to remain comatose, you have permitted a non-academic officer to misadvise your office and subvert the statutory protections governing the Research/Academic Cadre.
“Your attempt to enforce a policy that has been conclusively addressed, negotiated, and resolved through ministerial intervention is an actionable industrial provocation. ASURI will not stand by while the career advancement and livelihoods of its members are illegally terminated in breach of the 65-year retirement age established by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
“The responsibility for the total breakdown of industrial harmony at NIMR rests solely with your administration for failing to seek necessary clarification from the OHCSF before taking malicious and untoward action,” the notice concluded.
In a response, NIMR’s Media Consultant, Sam Eferaro remarked: “Concerning the 8 year term, NIMR is simply implementing the Federal Government policy as directed by the Head of civil service and the ministry of health. Management would therefor advise the union to direct its concern to the appropriate quarter, in this case, the Head of Civil Service.
