Workers at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) in Ilorin, Kwara State, have appealed to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, to rescue the institute from “further decay and total collapse caused by poor leadership.”

In a letter obtained by Tribune Online, the staff—under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Union of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, and Associated Institutions (SAUTHRIAI)—accused the institute’s Director-General, Comrade Issa Aremu, of incompetence.

A joint petition by the three unions alleged that Aremu’s administrative approach, since his appointment on 18th May 2021, has been deeply unsatisfactory, undermining the institution’s operations.

The petition, dated 24th March 2025, with Ref. No. MINILS/JAC/EC/I/19, and addressed to the Minister, says “MINILS has encountered significant challenges arising from Comrade Aremu’s inability to understand and work within the mandate of our organisation.”

According to the three trade unions, Aremu lacked the relevant experience for the job, “unlike his predecessors, our DG does not have a background and/or cognate experience in public service, nor has he been part of a training, research and development environment.

“As a result, he has struggled to grasp (with) the intricacies of our operations and the public service framework within which we function.”

The workers described as their chief executive’s “serial and egregious violation of administrative best practices and extant public service rules,”

Signed by Comrade Joel O. Afolayan, NASU Chairman, Comrade Ruth Ejechi, ASURI Chairman; Comrade Idris D. Abdulmajeed, SSAUTHRIAI Chairman and their Secretaries, the workers listed reason for the petition include; embarking on trips, both local and foreign, without appropriate delegation of responsibilities, thereby leaving an administrative and operational vacuum;

“Non-submission of the Institute’s Audited Financial Statements to the Auditor General of the Federation for a period of three years (2021, 2022 and 2023), which is contrary to financial regulations

“Disguise of financial dealings through third party engagement, concealing and diversion of receipts.”

They also accused the DG of promoting the idea of casualisation and outsourcing in a labour institute by recruiting an exaggerated number of non-permanent staff.

“Embarking on building projects, including the construction of an administrative building (incomplete), and the renovation of the Training Block without Tenders Board approval as provided for in the Procurement Act amongst other allegations.”

The unions appealed for the Minister’s intervention to save the Institute from total collapse.

MINILS is Nigeria premier institute for capacity building for the labour movement and policy makers in the field of labour. It is an Agency under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and is under the direct supervision of the Minister of State.