95 CRIN workers protest sack in Ibadan

The 95 sacked workers of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo State on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest, calling for the removal of the Chairman of the institute’s board, Chief Francis Fadahunsi.
The workers, who took their case to the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council, described their sack as a case of victimisation.
The State Coordinator of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, Bamigboye Abiodun, and the Chairman for the Committee of Sacked Workers, Ajibola Yinka, led the protesters.
The duo, in a statement made available to newsmen, claimed that the workers were sacked for not being confirmed.
Some of the placards carried by the workers read: “No to victimisation of our union leaders,” “Police, SSS, Civil Defence Officers stationed in CRIN must be withdrawn now,” and “No to victimisation of CRIN.”
Others included: “Sack of 95 CRIN workers is a clear case of victimisation,” and “We demand for promotion of staff as at when due.”
The statement claimed that between January 24 and January 27, the workers were issued sack letters after it was established that they had not been confirmed as full staff of the institute.
It said the responsibility of the management of the institute was to ensure that the confirmation of all officers on probation must not exceed two years.
The statement alleged that during the industrial dispute, workers were beaten and intimidated by hired thugs while union leaders were issued queries.
It claimed that the union leaders were also at different times interrogated by security operatives.
The statement called on the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress as well as civil society organisations and the general public to join the CDWR in the campaign for the immediate reinstatement of all sacked workers.
The workers also called for the payment of all outstanding salaries of workers in the institute.
When contacted on telephone, the Director of the institute, Prof. Malachy Akorada, said he was out of town.
Akorada said: “Please, I am not in town now and I cannot react on the telephone, but by Friday I will make available all records to verify all the facts.”