WORKERS of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja, on Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest at the front of the ministry over the alleged reduction of the forthcoming Sallah allowances by the ministry.
The protesters, who locked up the gate to prevent the senior staffers, especially the directors to gain entrance into their various offices, therefore, accused the Director of Finance and Administration (DF&A) of being behind the alleged reduction, calling for his immediate redeployment.
An informed ministry’s source told the Tribune Online that “it is just Sallah welfare. It is not a big deal. It is just our union asking for Sallah welfare. The union was asking for a particular amount and the DFA was trying to tell them that there was no money that this is what the ministry can afford so that is the whole thing. They were saying the man should go, If the person goes, won’t they bring another person?”.
Investigations further revealed that the workers later sent their representatives to meet with the Permanent Secretary to officially lodge their complaint which was also ended in deadlock.
“You know when there is no money, staff do not want to hear that and you know Sallah is coming up in first or second of next month and what they are asking for is credible amount of money. I too will benefit but when there is no money what should we do?”, impeccable government source added.
and then