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Workers demand removal of minister, Aganga

By on July 31, 2013

While the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, was busy reeling out the achievements of his ministry to the entire world in Abuja on Tuesday, many of the ministry’s worker staged a protest, demanding immediate sack of the minister alongside his Permanent Secretary, Dauda Kigbu.

The workers, who alleged that they had suffered untold hardship under the administration of Aganga, posited that he is no longer in the capacity to head the ministry for what they described as poor performance and gross incompetence.

The workers who trooped out in their hundreds to stage the protest at the ministry simultaneously as the minister spoke of his achievements at the 2013 ministerial platform at the Radio House, Abuja, accused Kigbu and the Director, Commercial Law Department, Mrs. Nima Salmann of complicity.

A Commercial Officer who spoke for the workers, Mr. Okonkwo Onwuyan, said poor funding, poor welfare packages, dirty environment, dilapidated structures and lack of infrastructure have been the hallmark of the ministry.

According to him, workers in the ministry had suffered untold hardship since the minister assumed office, adding that all efforts to make the minister address the situation were rebuffed.

Onwuyan also alleged that the minister hardly stays in the ministry to oversee its affair, adding that the workers had nicknamed him “the flying minister”, which he said had translated into inaction in the ministry.

He said Aganga approved N10 million for staff to celebrate the forthcoming Sallah, which he said negates what the union agreed with him. According to him, by the time each staff gets his own share of the N10m, he will be going home with N2, 000 to N3, 000, which he said is unacceptable.

“In the sister ministry, one person will be going home with N20, 000 to N30, 000, are we cursed here?” Onwuyan said.

Also, a worker who simply identified herself as Felicia claimed that while other ministries are being treated with good welfare packages during the Ramadan, they are being given N2, 500.

“Every festival the minister gives us N2, 500 and there is no single training for any of the staff,” she said.

The workers carried placards with inscriptions such as “Aganga must go!”, “Aganga bargaining for improved salary for staff as a professional ministry”, and “Husband and wife are ruling the ministry”

The workers accused the minister and his wife of running the ministry aground, stating that such impunity would no longer be tolerated.

Policemen were however on ground to control the surging protesting workers.

An official of the ministry who pleaded anonymity however said that the workers’ grouse against the minister is personal.

According to him, what the workers are demanding is N50, 000 each for Sallah, but the ministry gave out N10 million.

He said the ministry has provided four buses for the workers to ease their transportation burden, adding that the ministry is partnering with donor agencies for capacity building and training.

The Communication Officer in the office of the minister, Emeka Ezekiel, told The Guardian that the workers demanded N50,000 each for the celebration of Sallah. He said the minster had addressed the protesting workers.

(guardian)