•Employees, DG lock horns over N30m allocation
Power tussle and dispute over funds have turned the intellectual firmament of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) into a hot house, presenting urgency for whoever becomes foreign affairs minister to play fire brigade.
There was no rancour in the days of Bolaji Akinyemi and George Obiozor as directors general (DGs).
Another former DG, Joy Ogwu, had the support of subordinates then became foreign affairs minister from where she was appointed Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.
But now, the institute, Nigeria’s foreign policy think tank, is grappling with a crisis of confidence arising from a power play, dispute over money, and policy divergence.
NIIA DG, Bola Akinterinwa, is facing angry employees led by directors, research fellows, administrative support staff, and even cooks, who alleged that he is diverting funds meant for critical needs to construct a building.
Akinterinwa countered that the building is to serve as the NIIA office, kitted with facilities that measure up to international standard.
Professors, others carry placards
On Thursday, October 14, the employees, including professors, and research fellows, protested with placards to demand the sack of Akinterinwa.
NIIA Library Director, Abimbola Dada, alleged that “Akinterinwa has spent over N200 million on that building, which means he has diverted funds from the library.
“We haven’t bought books in the library in the past four years. He has diverted funds from research. He has diverted funds from training. He has diverted funds from general maintenance.”
Dada said the excessive expenditure on the structure has caused hardship to the welfare of the staff.
“He does not have money to repair buses. He has no money to buy materials for the cleaning of toilets. The ladies toilet is the only one working, and when we have a programme here, the place is horrible.
“All the funds he puts on his illegal structure he does not have approval for. He diverts funds from legitimate objectives. If you go to the library, the computers are not working. There is no internet. There is no money to buy diesel.
“On some days, we can stay here from morning till about 1pm or 2 pm waiting for electricity. The only time you get respite is when there is a programme.”
A research fellow who did not want his name in print accused Akinterinwa of being insensitive.
“The permanent secretary of our ministry knows. We have been in touch with him. The governing council knows. The problems have accumulated over time. We are now saying things have come to an end,” he said.
“We are downing tools until they listen to us and remove him. He is diverting funds meant for use in the NIIA.
“In our department, research, we don’t have money to engage in any research activities, we don’t engage in research trips. Research fellows are supposed to get research grants which we have not been getting.
“He diverts virtually all the money into that building. And once the issue is money, it affects the whole NIIA.
“The library is dilapidated. See water dripping from the roof. Contract staff and security staff have not been paid for three months. You drive into the office, you see them looking at you as if you are the one siphoning their money.
“A lot of things are wrong. But you see him there, he doesn’t care.”
The security men at the gate confirmed to the TheNiche that they were last paid salary in July.
Akinterinwa insists on completing building
Akinterinwa denied the charges, insisting that he must complete the building whether the workers like it or not.
His words: “The mere fact that they say this is another synagogue, it will collapse. And then you say I will not complete it?
“Please, I am a Cele man (a member of the Celestial Church of Christ.) I tell you, this one I will finish it.
“And any money I get, especially if it is not enough, I will divert it there. You can protest. You can do whatever you like. I don’t give a damn.
“People should not be anti-Nigeria. People should not be anti-development. People should not be anti-progress.
“Why engage in something satanic to say this place will collapse. I told some of them that if it is going to collapse, I beg God let it collapse on their head since they are very wicked.”
He said he has no money for the library and research projects that have no bearing on Nigeria’s interest.
“They (the government) released overhead funds yesterday (October 15). They also released capital funds yesterday. I am going to decide how it can be spent. But I cannot be buying journals, buying books or say you want to do project.
“I don’t deal with the type of projects they have – Marxism, Leninism, Global Climate Change, et cetera. Please they are not relevant to Nigeria.
“I am not interested in any international question that does not have direct implications for Nigeria’s national interest.
“When they propose different projects, I tell them please, we should not be consumer intellectuals. What they say in Europe and America that is what you want to be discussing? I am not interested in all those things.
“If we are talking about global governance, if we are talking about climate change, please how does it affect me? How it affects the foreign policy of Nigeria is what I am interested in.
“Not to be discussing climate change in America, how America and Russia are fighting. But how they fight and how we are affected. Research applied, that is what I introduced in terms of methodology.
“If people are not forthcoming, please I am the chief executive. I must stay on course. That is the issue.”
Who blinks first?
Akinterinwa said he would sanction the protesting staff.
“First of all, I will suspend the director of administration and finance because I cannot work with her. In public service regulation, when you are a director as a management employee, you don’t engage in strike.
“That one in itself is gross misconduct, it is summary dismissal. They should know.
“When you are going on strike, you tell your DG. You declare your trade dispute. Then your DG knows. But this one is not organised by any union. It is just some people coming together.
“Professors are giving instructions to security people. They are the one they are listening to. I now say, okay, all these security people your job ends this weekend. Am having a new set of people from Monday (October 19).
“These people (security) I pay them from overheads. Government directive is that we should outsource. If I outsource them and pay N2 million on monthly basis for security, the government will give me in my budget, I will pay directly.
“But these are people that have been working here. If I outsource, they will be out of job.
Et tu cook?
Akinterinwa was shocked that a cook who serves him was also wielding placards that “Akinterinwa must go.”
“We have cooks here. When our international guests come they provide tea, et cetera. That is what they are employed for. They are four, working in twos as a team.
“This cook, I saw her demonstrating, carrying placards against me, and you are a contract employee. As much as I want to have sympathy for people, you need to make people see clearly. Even if you are weeping you must learn to see clearly.
“It was Johnny Nash who sang I can see clearly now the rain is gone. When the rain is there you will not see clearly.
“I now said this one… What pained me about her own case is that just last week, we were trying to find a way to integrate her as a permanent employee.”