The Oyo State chapter of the Campaign for Democratic Workers Right (CDWR) on Sunday condemned the proscription of workers' unions at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) and suspension of some management staff over allegation that they instigated the labour crisis in the institute.

The CDWR in a statement by its Coordinator, Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye called on Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), civil society

organizations and national leadership of the existing unions in the Institute to immediately lend solidarity supports to the ongoing struggle of workers of the Institute with a view to forcing on the management and board of the Institute an urgent need to reverse all these draconian pronouncement and accede to the demands of the protesting CRIN workers.

"This action is not only reminiscent of the inglorious era of military dictatorship but also a brazen attack on the democratic right of the workers of the Institute.Besides, this is going to definitely deepen and exacerbate the unfortunate and lingering industrial crisis that has been rocking the Institute since July this year over the anti-worker conducts and corrupt practices of the Executive Director of the institute Prof. Malachy Akoroda.

"The Director was accused of high handedness, denial of workers promotion,

diversion of research materials for his personal use etc.," it said. 

In view of this, CDWR demanded that Chief Fadahunsi must immediately tender an unreserved apology to the workers of the Institute for describing them as "hoodlums"for the mere fact that they refused to be silenced in their legitimate fight against the corrupt practices of Prof. Akoroda.

It insisted that the salary of the institute's workers must not be stopped for any reason what so ever and demanded full recognition of the workers right to organize and participate in union activities and an immediate reversal of the decision made by Chief Fadahunsi to proscribe all workers unions in the Institute.CDWR also commended the workers in the institute particularly their leadership for demonstrating courage and doggedness in the struggle to defend the inalienable right of entire workers of the Institute even in the face of all kinds of unlawful attacks and intimidation by Professor Akoroda-led management and Chief Fadaunsi -led Board of the institute.

It urged the workers to be more determined and strategic on the urgent need to build more public sympathy and support for the struggle.

According to the union, the right to form, join and organise unions is an inalienable right of all workers and such a right cannot be taken away from them by individuals or a body which is a subordinate of the constitution that established such a right. Given this background, it warned and cautioned both Professor Akorada and Chief Fadahunsi to desist from using police and other government security agencies to unlawfully disperse the lawful and legitimate gathering of workers in the institute as well as undue harassment and attack on the leadership of the existing unions in the institute.