YOU DESERVE IT, ASURI CONGRATULATES NEW ACTING ES OF NERDC
Dr Lawani
THE Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) has congratulated the newly appointed Acting Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Abuja, Dr (Mrs) Margaret Taiwo Lawani.
In a letter dated 2nd of September 2024 and signed by the Secretary General of ASURI, Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, the union noted that she is well qualified for the job, adding that the cap fits her perfectly.
In the goodwill message to the Chief Executive, “APPLAUDING YOUR APPOINTMENT AS ACTING EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (NERDC),” the union noted that she did not just ride on the crest of the Conditions of Service for Federal Research and Development Agencies, Institutes and Colleges (COS 2019).
It says: “As keen players-cum-watchers and, ipso facto, strategic stakeholders in the Research and Development Institutes (RDI) sector, we trust that you will deliver on the mandate of NERDC, based on your academic pre-eminence, your pedigree of character and commitment, experience, understanding of the terrain and unalloyed strife for excellence.”
Professor Ndubuaku, in the letter dated 2nd September 2024, says, “As the well-grounded and time-tested Researcher, Administrator and team player that you are, we have no doubt that NERDC is in safe hands. We know that all stakeholders can now sleep with two eyes closed.”
The union has also commended the Hon Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, for following due process in the appointment of Dr Lawani, the most senior Research Director at NERDC as the Acting Executive Secretary of the Council as provided by COS 2019.
Speaking through its Scribe, Professor Ndubuaku in a letter dated 3rd of September 2024, with Ref. No. ASN/HMFME/NERDC/0724/01, the union says by this gesture, the Hon Minister, as the arrowhead of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration in the education sector, has proven that this government is poised for equity, justice and fair play as stipulated by the 23rd November 2017 circular of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and other extant regulations.
The SGF’s circular, “RE: PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTING CHIEF EXECUTIVES AND HEADS OF PARASTATALS, GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANIES, AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS,” with Ref. No. SGF/OP/1/S.3/T, states in part: “Such appointments which should be without prejudice to eligible serving officers competing for these positions must be based on strict adherence to the principle of justice, equity and fair play,” adding: “To ensure stability, continuity and improvement of staff morale, serving officers shall be encouraged to aspire to top positions of their establishments through effective career development and succession planning.”
The position of the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of NERDC became vacant after the demise of the incumbent, Professor Ismail Junaidu, who passed on in Damaturu, Yobe State, on the 25th of July 2024 while attending a meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee of Education (JCCE).
