The Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institution (SSAUTHRIAI) in Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu on Wednesday, protested against the removal of its Overseeing Director General of the institute, Dr Fabian Okonkwo by the Board.
Our correspondent, who visited the Emene Office complex of PRODA, the atmosphere was charged which it was learnt started on Tuesday, when, a heavily guarded Director of the institute, Dr. Arit Etukudor was driven into the office environment amidst heavily armed security operatives of the Department of Security Service (DSS) and police to take over the office of the Overseeing DG as the new acting DG.
But the workers, who said they were confused on the development told our correspondent that upon inquiry they were told that the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, had suspended the Overseeing DG following a recommendation from the governing board of PRODA led by the chairman Hon. Emma Eneukwu, a chieftain of the All Progress Congress (APC) in Enugu and also a long time loyalist of the Minister and had asked Dr Etukudor to oversee the affairs of the institute.
The protesting workers, who chanted labour solidarity songs, however, called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to intervene and ensure that the right thing was done. They stated that Okonkwo was removed to cover up what they described as a monumental fraud committed in the Institute by the previous DGs in collaboration with past Board.
Chairman of SSAUTHRIAI, Comrade Ohiemi Gabriel, while addressing journalists on behalf of the workers, described the process as the “grandest height of Illegality”.
He said “how can a board that have not sat for a meeting since it’s inaugural meeting on 24th October, 2021, recommend the suspension for an Overseeing Director General who is the statutory secretary of the board?”
Ohiemi described Dr. Okonkwo as a committed leader who had changed the ugly narrative in PRODA for good.
“There are several laudable projects under construction at the moment, from the science park building to the construction of new office store and renovation of different office building. In terms of staff welfare, Dr Okonkwo has demonstrated an uncommon verve in the area of training and retraining of staff.
“If a leader is doing well, he/she should be encouraged rather than been falsely indicted for selfish, parochial and primordial reasons.
“Consequently the workers are calling on Mr. President to wade into the impasse for the purpose of justice and equity.”
The Chairman of the Board, Mr Eneukwu, when contacted on telephone, said that the board passed a Vote of No Confidence on Okonkwo, when he bent on frustrating and impeding on the work of the board.
He said, “there are guidelines and statute that are laid down for the administration of the Institute. Since we were inaugurated in October the man has refused to call for meeting and immediately we came in there were series of petitions from the staff, from the contractors; from all quarters.
“He first of all lied to us that he was going for a meeting in South America which we found out later that he didn’t go anywhere yet he collected the money for the trip and put in his pocket. When we discovered it, I called him and asked him to call for a meeting of the board even to seat once so that we can start discussing the petitions and other issues on how to improve the Institute but he refused. After several letters and communications to him and the ministry yet he refused. That was why we passed a vote of no confidence on him and communicated to the ministry.”
