Staff of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs on Wednesday, September 10, staged a protest in Abuja, accusing the supervising Minister, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, of neglecting their welfare.
In videos from the protest, workers alleged that the ministry had failed to provide welfare packages, training, and reimbursements for official assignments. One staff member lamented that allowances for trips taken as far back as January 2023 had yet to be paid.
A protesting staff, Anne Ojubele, said:
“We don’t have working tools at all. Even a piece of paper to write with, we do not have. Most of the time, when we go on official assignments, we use our own money. She told us she is not accountable to us, but to Mr President, and that we should take our complaints to the Permanent Secretary.”
Another staff member, Alake Success, also expressed frustration over the minister’s alleged refusal to engage with workers.
“This woman has refused to meet with us despite our patience for over a year. In a democracy, leaders should be accessible. Instead, she came with more than 25 special assistants and avoids us. If possible, she should be posted to another ministry,” he said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim was appointed Minister of Women Affairs in October 2024, following the removal of her predecessor, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye.