The explanation has angered many workers, who argue that promotion examinations and interviews could not have been conducted without prior approval for available vacancies.
Fresh tension has erupted at the headquarters of the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR) in Kaduna State following allegations that the institute's embattled Director-General, Dr. Joachim Joseph Ajakaiye, is attempting to block the promotion of dozens of staff members who successfully took promotion examinations, SaharaReporters has learnt.
The latest crisis, which began last week, reportedly escalated into heated confrontations between Ajakaiye and union leaders, with workers accusing the Director-General of manipulating the promotion exercise to protect members of an alleged inner circle benefiting from his administration.
The dispute comes weeks after SaharaReporters exclusively reported that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) questioned Ajakaiye over allegations of corruption, abuse of office, financial mismanagement, age falsification and other acts of misconduct.
Multiple sources within the institute told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that the promotion controversy has sharply divided management and labour unions, exposing what they described as cracks in the Director-General's long-standing alliance with some union executives.
