12th February, 2020
Embattled acting Director-General of the institute, Mr Chima Igwe has been removed by the Governing Board of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Lagos.
Dr Agnes Asagbra was appointed to take over from him. Prior to the decision, Asagbra was the Director of Production, Analytical and Laboratory Management.
File Photo: The new acting Director-General, Agnes Asagbra.
The new acting Director-General, Agnes Asagbra, was served a letter of appointment and asked to resume office immediately.
A copy of the letter, dated Monday, February 10, was signed by the Chairman of the FIIRO Governing Board, Alhaji Ibrahim Gwarzo.
An official notice to the workers on Tuesday, written by the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Mrs. O.A. Akinfire, also revealed that the appointment took immediate effect.
“She is to oversee the activities of the institute pending the appointment of a substantive director-general and chief executive officer.
“Please accord her all necessary support towards the achievement of the mandates of the institute,” the memo stated.
Asagbra had initially been recommended by the governing board to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu after the controversy surrounding the doctorate of Igwe surfaced in 2019.
But the minister rejected the recommendation and asked that the 57-year-old be appointed.
Igwe, who for 18 years claimed to have bagged a PhD from Universite d’Abomey Calavi, Benin Republic, took office as acting DG in May 2019.
According to FIIRO law, no officer can rise above the level of a principal research officer without a PhD.
It was later discovered that he had been using an attestation letter in place of a certificate for his appraisals and evaluations.
The revelation led to protests by FIIRO workers, who demanded Igwe’s suspension.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, in a statement on Monday, also confirmed that Igwe was yet to complete the programme.
The ICPC said it had communicated its findings to the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Following the report, the FIIRO governing board was said to have asked Igwe to step down.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union, Florence Ogunleye, said the action of the workers was a mark of rejection of Igwe, adding that he damaged the reputation of FIIRO.
“Igwe kept a lie for over 18 years and with his position, he subjugated others; some people had to leave the system in frustration.
“People like him should be punished and prosecuted for Nigerians to know that dishonesty does not pay. And his backers should be exposed and punished as well,” she added.