Administrative activities were paralysed on Wednesday, at the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC) following a protest by staff of the centre demanding for the removal of Director General of the establishment, Professor Ibrahim Abdullahi Madugu, for act of corruption, illegality and impunity.
The staff made up of three unions SSAUTHRIAI, ASURI and NASU barricaded the entrance of the centre as early as 8:00 am to prevent the Managing Director and other management staff from accessing the centre. They carried leaves and placards with various inscriptions denouncing the style of leadership of Professor Madugu.
Addressing newsmen, the Chairman of SSAUTHRIAI Comrade Ucheji Nwancho who spoke on behalf of other unions said the Director General with active support of some officials in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has continue to function as DG despite the fact that his tenure elapsed on the 28th of April, 2016, including the two terms of extension of three months each by the ministry which also elapsed on October, 28th 2016.
He said the Director General is neither in the centre’s staff list nor on its payroll since 28th of October, 2016 till date but had continue to illegally preside over the affairs of NMDC including award of contracts, expending the centre fund.
The Union leader expressed shock at the altitude of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development who despite overwhelming cases of inefficiency and abuse of process went ahead to approve first and second tenure extensions of three months each to the DG.
Comrade Nwancho therefore called on President Mohammadu Buhari to safe the establishment from total collapse occasioned by deep rooted corruption and impunity.
When confronted with the allegations, the embattled Director General Professor Madugu simply declared thus: ” I have no clearance from the ministry to talk to journalist. As a civil servant I must get clearance from my Permanent Secretary before I can talk to you.
” All I can tell you is that they are being pushed by some elements who feel they can take law into their hands. I want to tell you that I am entitled to second term. Also they have no right to prevent staff who want to work from going in. Before you embark on strike there must be consultation or what is call chatter of demand but in this case there is nothing like that”
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