Business Activities at the Federal Ministry of Finance (MOF) was yesterday ground to a halt as staff of the ministry downed tools, demanding immediate removal of the Permanent Secretary Mrs Anastasia Nwaobia.
For more than four hours, the workers of the ministry grounded business activities over what they described as poor welfare conditions.
The workers barricaded the main gate of the ministry, preventing visitors and staff from either gaining entrance to the ministry nor going out.
They even prevented the coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the minister of state, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda from driving their cars into the premises.
Both ministers who arrived at different times had to alight from their cars outside the ministry’ gate and walk into the premises on foot, amidst heavy chants of “Perm Sec must go.”
The workers accused the Permanent Secretary of deliberately denying them some of the benefits that should accrue to them based on the civil service rules.
The workers, said since the Permanent Secretary assumed office few months ago, members of staff had been experiencing difficulties in getting some of their allowances, such as overtime and training allowances.
They also accused her of tactically stopping some of the perks that should be given to them during festive periods.
Nwoabia, who was at the building during the protest, appeared restless as her movement were restricted by the workers.
Okonjo-Iweala, who might have been able to placate the workers, was said not to be in the office during the protest.
She was said to be attending the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa.
All pleas by top directors of the ministry for the workers to stop the protest fell on deaf ears as the protest was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report. They said they were waiting for the finance minister to come and address them.
The finance minister, when she finally came urged them to quiet down that the matter would be resolved the satisfaction of the workers.
She immediately convened a meeting of the workers’ union, the workers and top management of the ministry.
Source: Leadership
