On Thursday morning, civil servants at the Ministry of Works staged a protest by blocking access to the ministry premises. This action was taken in response to the supervising minister, Sen. David Umahi, who had initially ordered the closure of the ministry's entrance due to some staff members consistently arriving late to work. Although the minister later requested that the gate be reopened, the protesting staff refused, citing his lack of prior warning and unilateral decision-making as their primary grievances.
One anonymous ministry staff member expressed concerns about the minister's management style, highlighting that many employees lived on the outskirts of Abuja and faced challenges related to transportation costs and traffic congestion during their daily commutes. The closure of the ministry's gates served as a platform for the workers to voice their frustrations with the minister's approach to running the ministry.
Furthermore, tensions had been mounting within the ministry as the minister had accused directors of inadequate contractor supervision, alleging collusion in inflating road contracts. He also placed blame on them for the poor state of the country's roads, which led to accidents and kidnappings. These allegations had further fueled discontent among the ministry staff, prompting their protest. The situation remains unresolved as both sides grapple with the ongoing dispute.
