‘NABDA’ Staff elated as agency board approves 2019 promotion exams letters

As a follow up to the on and off arrangements to settle the issues of approval of 2019 Examination Letters and 2020 Promotion Examination cum other related matters raised by staff of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), the governing board has tentatively agreed to the union demands, a reliable source has disclosed.

Recall that Freelanews reported that the agency, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, finally met to resolve the issues facing the agency after several postponements.

While the Joint Action Committee of union bodies within the agency, Academic Staff Union Of Research Institutions (ASURI) and Non Academic Staff Union Of Educational And Associated Institutions (NASU), waited with bated breath on the outcome of the meeting, the source disclosed that the board has agreed to approve the 2019 promotion letter and to capture the 2020 promotion examination.

“The 2019 promotion letter and to capture the 2020 promotion examination are the two major demands. Other details in the meeting were within the administrative,” he said.

On whether the 2020 promotion examination has been approved, the source responded that though a month has been chosen, it is not yet official.

“Tentatively, they put September but it is not yet official; they have not fixed a specific date,” the source disclosed.

While speaking on the non-payment of the arrears, the source stated that the problems was not from the federal government but the agency.

“Federal government has released money, but when you don’t conduct your examination at the normal time, it piles up. Then you now have to wait for a long time before federal government will then finally give you the money.

“As it is, it is only 2019 the government is owing those that wrote their promotional examination last year. January till now is the fault of the agency.”

When it was pointed out that 2017 promotion arrears were still pending, the source insisted that it has been paid already.

“No, it has been paid last year. It was only 2018 that is yet to be paid and it would be paid this year if COVID-19 doesn’t disrupt anything.”

The agency, which has been embroiled in underfunding of main research projects, was one of the agencies recommended by the presidential committee on restructuring and rationalization of federal government parastatals, commissions and agencies during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, for the merging of 102 government agencies and parastatals.

But government’s white paper hasn’t approved it in the 800-paged report, commonly called the Oransaye report.

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