Minister Umahi Locks Workers Out of Ministry of Works

Tension gripped the Ministry of Works in Abuja as irate civil servants staged a protest after the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, locked out over 300 staff and directors who reported to work late.

The frustrated public servants not only expressed their displeasure but also confined the minister to his office, demanding an apology from him.

The incident unfolded when Minister Umahi, upon resuming at 9:30 am, prevented tardy workers from entering the ministry for over four hours. When the gate was finally opened, the employees, hailing from both the Housing and Works ministries, boycotted their duties and organized an impromptu protest, blockading the entrance gates.

They even obstructed the entry and exit points of the building, effectively preventing the minister from leaving his office to greet Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was visiting the ministry.

An anonymous staff member, expressing shock at Umahi’s actions, argued that he seemed oblivious to the prevailing economic hardship in the country, particularly the fact that many staff members live far from the city center.

The staff member said, “The minister, upon resumption around 9:30 am, instructed security officers to lock the gate. Over 300 staff members, including some directors, were asked to stay outside, and even when we tried to enter, the gatekeepers said it was on the minister’s orders and that nobody should enter the premises.”

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The situation escalated as the protest persisted for hours, with workers demanding an apology from the minister and better consideration of the country’s economic hardships.

Minister Umahi, while eventually apologizing, pledged to address some of the concerns raised regarding high transportation costs and urged workers to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s transformative innovations while discouraging them from participating in the planned nationwide strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress.