By Pita Chib, Minna

Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions (JORAISU) workers of Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), Minna under the Ministry of Science and Technology has threatened to shutdown the institute if the federal government reappoints the immediate past Managing Director,  Prof. Mohammed Ndaliman.

The Union comprises Academic Staff of Research Institutes (ASURI) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), and its chairman, Engr Chinedu Ugwu, while addressing newsmen at the Institute in Minna said, "we have passed a vote of confidence on the Acting Managing Director, Engr. Muhammadu Shaba who is an internal staff."

Reacting to the development, immediate past Chief Executive, Prof. Ndaliman through the Information Officer to the Institute, Bashir Kotangora told our correspondent  on phone that the Union are just protesting because they don't like his face.

Asked about his view about the reappointment saga, Kotangora said, "to the best of my ability, what they are saying is only an indication that they don't like Ndaliman.

"It is true that his first tenure has ended since 2019 but, the Chief Executive has not been reappointed, I do not see the reason for this."

However, in a communique jointly signed by the Chairman ASURI, Engr. Ugwu Chinedu and Chairman NASU, Ahmed Adamu said "we have resolved and passed a vote of no confidence on the immediate past Managing Director.

"Any attempt to reappoint or impose in any guise, the immediate past Managing Director/Chief Executive of SEDI-Minna on the Institute will be totally resisted via all available industrial actions by the joint Union and staff of the Institute."

The Communique added that "wherever vacancy exists for the position of the Managing Director, priority should be given to internal staffers with prerequisite qualifications first from the Institute."