A staff of the National Population Commission (NPC), in Ogun State, on Tuesday, protested and demanded the sack of the Commission’s Director-General, Ghaji Ismaila Bello.
The protesting workers shut down the NPC office located within the premises of the Federal Secretariat, Abeokuta, in the early hours of the day, chanting anti-solidarity songs.
The aggrieved workers alleged Bello of high handedness, corrupt practices, poor staff welfare among others.
They called on the Federal Government to remove the DG with immediate effect over alleged bad leadership.
Armed with placard cards with inscriptions such as “Ghaji Ismaila Bello (DG NPC) Must Go!!!
“Ghaji Must Go. He has failed in his responsibilities as a leader”, also added that Bello had prioritised self-interest above over organizational objectives.
Speaking on behalf of the protesting workers, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical, Recreational Employees and Services, (AUCTRE) Chairman, NPC Chapter, Ogun State, Mr Gilbert Sikuade explained that staff had been forced to cope with the DG’s poor leadership for a period of four years, calling for a change in the Commission’s leadership.
“Well, our staff are saying enough is enough of the DG’s high-handedness and arrogance, lack of grasp of institutional vision and mission of NPC, total disregard to staff welfare, impediment of staff career progression, disregard to procurement procedure, perpetrating corruption and graft and prioritizing self interests over organizational objectives,” Sikuade noted.
While noting that the protests were in support of the industrial action of the NPC staff which started last week at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the chairman appealed to the Federal Government to listen to their pleas and effect the DG’s removal.
Also speaking, the AUCTRE Secretary, NPC, Comrade Shodipo James decried the “draconian laws” of the DG, calling him an “ethnic man”
“Ghaji must go. We don’t want him. He should go to another ministry. We want an in-house DG. We want those that know what it takes to work in NPC.” he added.