By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—COALITION of Trade Unions in the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, RRIN, in Edo State, has appealed to the Federal Government to appoint the next Chief Executive of the Institute from qualified research directors within the institute.

It noted that the prevailing situation where the Chief Executive has always been appointed from outside the institute was a violation of the scheme of service governing the administration of research institutions across the country.

In a communique by Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, ASURI, in the institute, Dr Edith Omo-Ikerodah, the union stressed that the institute has qualified Research Directors who can effectively handle the research and administrative mandate of the establishment, noting that “From experience, the appointment of Executive Directors of the Institute from outside RRIN had always created a gap in continuity and inevitable delay in research activities for a period between one to two years.

“This invariably brings a major setback on research activities and progress in the institute. The persistent sourcing of Executive Directors from outside the institute, has always led to exit of qualified Research Officers, who are denied the benefit of reaching the apex position in the institute,” she said.