A group under the aegis of Plateau Network for Social Justice and Reform (PNSJR) has strongly condemned the continuous protests by a cross-section of workers at the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC) Jos, which has disrupted activities of the centre in last two weeks.
LEADERSHIP reports that the workers had embarked on protests demanding for the immediate removal of the Director-General of the Centre, alleging maladministration.
PNSJR in a statement signed by its president, Timothy Dallak, and secretary, Hon. Daniel Abubakar, respectively, expressed disappointment over a series of protests by workers despite the efforts by the management team led by the director general, Professor Linus Asuquo to reposition the centre.
The group also emphasised that it was obvious and crystal clear that the Centre was in a comatose state and lying prostrate prior to the appointment of Professor Asuquo as Director-General, and that the call for his removal was surprising given the agency’s recent turn.
According to the group, the call for the removal of the Director-General was too flimsy, especially as the implementation of their demands was not within the chief executive’s authority and the workers should have known that only the ministry has the answer to their demands.
“Our findings reveal that the protest is being sponsored by a few insiders who perceived Asuquo, leadership, particularly, the renewal of his tenure, as a threat to their atrocities and as well as a means to force his removal in order for one of them, who is about to retire, to take over the centre’s leadership.
“Most of the issues raised can be cross-checked with the ministry. So, why the protest? Concerning financial irregularities, the two anti-graft agencies as we learnt had reviewed the petitions against the Director-General and exonerated him.
“The overseeing ministry cannot afford to remain silent on this, the workers must be called to order. It was so embarrassing that the Permanent Secretary, during his official visit to the Centre, was almost prevented from gaining entrance into the centre all his efforts to calm down the few workers protesting were futile .
“Given Plateau State’s, unpredicted nature, our main concern right now is that peace be allowed to rule. So that bad elements do not exploit the protest to sow mayhem”
The group urged the minister of Steel Development, Prince Shaibu Abubakar Audu, and the permanent secretary of the ministry to as a matter of urgency call the individuals behind the protest to order and address the concerns, while those found wanting should face consequences.
PNSJR on the other hand, praised the director-general’s huge strides in the face of diminishing funding over the last four years, claiming that NMDC was one of the abandoned agencies prior to his appointment.
