Society

Researchers' union calls for strike over failed dialogue with gov't.

by Mercy Fosoh
26 May 2025 19:24
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Scientific Research Minister Madeleine Tchuente

The National Union of Public Sector Researchers, SYNAC, has reportedly called on researchers in the country to embark on a week-long strike following breakdown in its dialogue with government over longstanding grievances.
The demands, as cited by the Union include; administrative regularization, a revised researcher statute, the promulgation of a research orientation law, and improved research funding.

In a recent press release, the union called for a cessation of activities for researchers in institutions under the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, MINRESI, from May 21 to 28, 2025.

The Union warned that the strike could extend beyond the initial period if favourable solutions to grievances are not found.

Further strike actions, it hinted, will also include the suspension of all scientific supervision activities for students and a halt of scientific activities across all MINRESI research structures.

The decision to strike comes after a SYNAC's Executive Bureau, meeting on May 12, 2025. During the meeting, participants had noted a lack of sincere social dialogue regarding the demands outlined in a strike notice of April 12.

Key demands remain unmet

While SYNAC acknowledged the signing of a special statute for research personnel on August 8, 2023, and ongoing administrative regularization for some researchers at the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reform, it said several crucial demands remain unaddressed.

Principal among these, it said, is the promulgation of a research orientation law, which has been pending for four years. Also awaiting resolution, the Union said, is the demand for improved research funding, particularly the quarterly allocation for research modernisation.

The latest strike notice is not SYNAC's first. A previous strike notice on November 5, 2021, led to a tripartite meeting on November 30, 2021, involving MINRESI, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and SYNAC.

The meeting of that year resulted in a joint statement in which the Union and the government promised monthly examinations of demands by a tripartite committee. It was supposed to have started since December 2021. SYNAC said, there has been no progress despite many consultations.

It should be recalled that in a recent open letter to the Head of State, SYNAC reiterated its ambition to transform researchers into productive assets for the nation, rather than a burden on the State.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3453 of Friday May 23, 2025