By Joint Action Committee, MINILS
THE ATTENTION of the three (3) in-house Unions at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin — namely Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) — has been drawn to a recent report published by an online news platform, National Record. In the report, Mr. Issa Aremu alleged that the Unions were being sponsored by certain Directors to oppose his reappointment as Director-General.
2. We categorically state that these claims are not only baseless and libelous but also a calculated attempt to mislead the general public and distract critical stakeholders from the core issues of Mr. Aremu’s impunity, pettiness, divisiveness and gross incompetence that have significantly set the Institute back by more than two decades during his four-year tenure.
3. For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Aremu’s poor performance over the past four years became so evident that the Institute’s workforce, whom we represent, unanimously decided it was time to say “enough is enough”. They turned to their Union leaders to take appropriate action in resisting his return. As representatives of the staff, it is our statutory duty to protect their rights and interests, and we are committed to fulfilling that mandate holistically.
4. Pertaining an alleged ethnic dominance by individuals from a particular state, we make bold to state that MINILS is a national Institute with workers from different parts of the country. The Institute also has branches in different geopolitical zones of the country, where staff with varied ethnic backgrounds work. It is important to add, that, the leadership of the in-house Unions largely reflects this cultural plurality.
5. In terms of general engagement with staff as well as at the level of interpersonal relations, there is a longstanding culture of respect for and emphasis on multiculturalism and diversity in the Institute, at least before Mr. Aremu arrived on the scene. Mr Aremu’s base recourse to tribalism and clannish sentiments in reacting to clear issues of his mal-adroitness, incompetence and misgovernance, is typical of his unorthodox crude administrative theme in his sojourn in MINILS, which was characterized by massive attempts to foster a divide and rule policy on the Institute in order to fragment human resources and stifle peaceful and harmonious work climate.
6. Mr. Aremu’s recent outbursts and unsubstantiated claims are clear signs of frustration arising from his widespread rejection. They are also part of a deliberate strategy to distract from the real issues at hand and confound unsuspecting members of the public. Perhaps, it will better serve Mr Aremu’s purposes in relation to future endeavours, not in MINILS, if he were to concentrate on addressing matters of inadequate leadership skills, and character deficits which have consistently trailed his employment career, even beyond MINILS.
7. Mr Aremu has used every means outside the Public Service Rule (PSR) to intimidate MINILS’ staff and their elected Union representatives from our principled stance against his return as Director General/Chief Executive: from sponsored and misleading media reports and open threats of violence; through the use of misinformed and unsuspecting security personnel, to the mobilisation of thugs and street urchins apparently to physically assault protesting staff. In all of this, the staff, through their Unions remained resolute in their commitment to responsible administration, respect for public service procedures, professionalism, and institutional development. No amount of misinformation, smear tactics and whipping up of primordial sentiments, will deter us from defending the rights and interests of our members.
This is a rejoinder to our news report, entitled: “Aremu Defends Self, Blames ‘Hired Goons’ For Smear Campaign As Unions Protest Against His Reappointment As MINILS DG Over Alleged Harassment, Workers’ Welfare, Infrastructure Decay“, published on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The rejoinder, dated June 4, 2025, is signed by Timothy A. Oduwole, Ajayi A. Shina and Chimaobi C. Ohaeri, Secretaries of ASURI, SSAUTHRIAI and NASU, respectively.
