The crisis at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has intensified following allegations that its Director-General, Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, is proceeding with plans to retire some research professors after eight years in director positions, despite opposition from the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI).
The union has faulted the move, insisting that research professors and Chief Research Fellows are exempted from the eight-year tenure policy applicable to directors in the federal public service. It also argued that extending the policy to research institutions could undermine Nigeria’s research and development sector.
According to ASURI’s National Secretary, Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, the dispute began after a circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation failed to clearly exempt research institutions from the policy. He said the union had written to the Head of Service seeking clarification but received no response.
Ndubuaku alleged that the NIMR Director-General subsequently directed three directors to hand over government property and vacate their official residences by August 31, 2026. The directive was reportedly followed by another reminder issued on October 19, demanding immediate compliance.
The union maintained that the affected directors should enjoy the same retirement provisions as their counterparts in the university system, arguing that they should remain in service until they attain 65 years of age or complete 40 years of pensionable service.
It also cited a July 10, 2026, ruling by the National Industrial Court, presided over by Justice Olufunke Anuwe, which nullified the eight-year retirement policy as it applied to teachers and education officers protected under the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022.
ASURI further alleged that the salaries of the three affected directors had been stopped since March 2026 and that their official email accounts had been tampered with, preventing them from receiving messages.
Ndubuaku said the union had contacted its lawyer and was preparing to return to the Industrial Court over the latest directive. He warned that the union could embark on industrial action if the matter was not addressed.
However, Obafunwa denied having any disagreement with the affected directors and referred questions about the dispute to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Ministry of Health.
He also declined to comment on allegations concerning the stoppage of the directors’ salaries and the suspension of their official email accounts.
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