‘Strike has crippled Zaria Leather Institute’
When was this institute established?This institute was established in 1964 by the United Nations Development Project under the Food and Agricultural Organization. It was established as hides and skin demonstration and training project. At the conclusion of the project, the UN handed it over to the Federal Government and in 1973 and the name of […]
When was this institute established?
This institute was established in 1964 by the United Nations Development Project under the Food and Agricultural Organization. It was established as hides and skin demonstration and training project. At the conclusion of the project, the UN handed it over to the Federal Government and in 1973 and the name of the institute was changed to Leather Research Institute of Nigeria. The institute was established by Decree 35 of 1973. Since then it has been conducting research and development projects alongside capacity building by way of training. We have been training artisans, technicians and technologists at different levels since the inception of the institute and we have been collaborating with the tanneries, leather manufacturers and associations.
The institute has undergone transformation with time and in 1988 the mandate of the institute was expanded to, apart from leather research, include chemical research and the name was changed to the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology. A new section was then established in Basawa, Zaria and by 1990, the headquarters of the institute was transferred to Basawa along with the Samaru section and named Federal College of Leather Technology, an arm of the National Institute of Chemical Technology.
In 1992 the Samaru section was separated from Basawa and autonomy was granted to it. Its name was changed from Federal College of Leather Technology to Federal College of Leather and Science Technology. Within that period, the decree establishing the institute was amended, because before that time all its programmes were not accredited by any body. So, the institute began courses at National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels. In 2006 the Ministry of Science and Technology set up a committee which transferred the leather institute in Basawa to Samaru including all the extension centres in Kano, Sokoto, Maiduguri and Jos. We conduct dual mandate of training and research.
Do you produce and sell leather goods?
We produce the finished leather and leather goods such as foot wear, wallets, bags and we supply them. In fact we are making about 150 conference bags for Ministry of Agriculture now.
There were several strikes of recent by your teachers, why?
Well, there was a national strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics because we have trade unions that have affiliation with those of polytechnics. The strike lasted for almost three months. And another strike was declared last week, September 2 by the trade unions in the institute.
What are their demands?
I was notified about the strike and the demand was that they want change in condition of service from the present research institute, colleges of agriculture and allied institutions conditions and scheme of service to that of the polytechnics. I don’t know specifically why they are looking for that change but I want to believe that they have seen something good in the condition and scheme of service of the polytechnics. And since they have affiliation to polytechnics, I think it is natural to make the demand.
Were they at anytime under the polytechnic conditions and scheme of service?
I don’t know whether there was something like that because if there was, it will be shown and I haven’t seen the records for that. In fact I can even show you the appointment letters of the DG before me and mine where you will see both appointments were governed by the scheme and condition of service for research institutions. They have been on this for a long time now.
What efforts are you making to resolve the matter?
Conditions and scheme of service is an issue that is beyond the management of the organization to handle and is an issue that the ministry cannot take without liaising with other government bodies like the office of the Head of Service of the Federation because such matters are handled by the head of service. So, the issue of scheme and condition of service is an inter-ministerial issue.
Do you think the demands can be achieved?
It is possible because we were placed under Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Scale (CONRAIS ) by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission in January 2011 but they later changed us to Consolidated Polytechnics Academic Salary Structure in November 2011. What the teachers are agitating for is that since their salary structure is that of polytechnics then their condition of service too, should harmonize with the salary structure. But the salary structure is a different requirement from the conditions of service because the wages commission has the mandate of assigning salaries but only the head of service has the legal responsibility of assigning condition of services.
Are there differences in the condition of service?
In our condition of service, we have provision for sabbatical lecturing but I don’t know of polytechnics. So, it is only research institutes and universities that do sabbatical. Also, it was only of recent that consolidated salary scale level 15 was approved for polytechnics but they didn’t have it before. Level 15 is the highest salary level you can attain. If you go to universities, level 15 is given to professors. Then, if you talk about some of the impediments for the research institute, if you don’t have a Phd, you can only reach a particular level and you cannot be promoted from ‘lecturer one’ to a senior lecturer which is not the case for polytechnics. And the number of publications you need to advance in the research institutes may not be needed to advance in the polytechnic system.
The conditions seem hard …
It is too hard but I think we are only one out of 17 parastatals and we are all human beings and the same condition applies to all the others.
I met several times with the unions because I believe in dialogue. The management invited the striking workers and a five-man committee was set, two from the union and three from the management so that they can come up with a prayer to the ministry. And the committee has been working.
Are you lagging behind on your academic calendar?
Very much, and I don’t like anything that will disrupt academic calendar. The students are supposed to be writing their first semester exams now. I met with the students on this matter. A parent also called from Abuja complaining of the strike.
If there were no strikes, the academic calendar ought to have been completed by now (August/September) but even with the national strike, we came back with the hope that we will complete the programme in good time. There may be solution soon because we are trying to dialogue.
The students also complained that they are given Higher Diploma Certificate instead of Higher National Diploma?
It is not true. Students obtain either ND or HND. There was actually an error in one certificate which instead of HND the student was given HD, which can be corrected.