Why workers demand Perm Sec’s removal - Union

Sour relationship with the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu was the reason workers want the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Amina Bello Shamaki removed, union officials said.

Our reporters had erroneously stated that Thursday’s protest was against Mrs Belema Wakama Asifieka, but union officials told Daily Trust that Mrs Asifieka had since retired before Dr Shamaki was redeployed.

Daily Trust recall that in May 2016 dozens of workers in the ministry of health marched to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to protest against Dr Shamaki, who was then the Permanent Secretary and her handling of staff affairs.

They demanded the Head of Service (HOS) to post a “knowledgeable and competent permanent secretary” to run the health ministry.

However a staff of the Science and Tech Ministry, who doesn’t want to be quoted, said the minister was the cause of the problem he does not tolerate “professional advice” from Dr Shamaki.

“The Minister often shows that he is better than the Perm Sec on some fundamental issues and such always push some blames to her in some instances, where there were lapses. I think the PS (Perm Sec) too need to ‘cool down’ and find ways of working with the minister irrespective of her competence and whatever powerful backers she may think she has,” she said.

The senior staffer cited a case of the National Biotechnology as Development Agency (NABDA), an agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology, where the minister and Perm Sec openly differed on the appointment of an acting Director General leading to the intervention of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, who backed the argument of the Perm Sec which was purely on merit.

A director in the ministry who confirmed the protest in a chat with Daily Trust had said “We are not aware of any grievance that could warrant the protest.”