58 NMDC Workers Suspended Over Alleged Violation Of Public Service Rule

The Ministry of Steel Development (MSD) has suspended 58 staff members of the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC) Jos, Plateau State, following their continuous protest despite the intervention of the Ministry, a development that has hitherto paralysed official activities of the Centre.

The Ministry, in a memo tittled ‘Notice of Suspension From Office’ signed by Mrs Ijeoma Idika, Director of Human Resource Management, for the Permanent Secretary and addressed to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NMDC, a copy of which was made available to LEADERSHIP in Jos, said: “I am directed to inform you that the Honourable Minister has constituted a disciplinary/investigative committee to investigate the matter and make necessary recommendation that will ensure lasting solution to the crisis.

“Consequently, the attached list of staff of the Agency who have been identified as having direct involvement in the acts that violated PSR 100301 (n) and (o) respectively, in line with the provisions of Public Service Rule PSR 100406, are hereby suspended from Office with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the investigation into the matter.”

According to the memo, the terms of their suspension (ToS) stated that the affected staff were required to leave the Agency’s premises immediately and not to return until further notice, adding that they will not be allowed to perform any duties or functions related to their positions.

Similarly, they are not entitled to any salary or benefits during the period of their suspension, while they are also required to return all Agency’s property, including documents, equipment, and any other materials to their supervisors or HR Department.

The suspension motice further added that the affected staff, in the course of further investigation into the matter, will be called upon for interrogation or clarification and would be required to cooperate fully by providing any useful information or documentation that will assist the Committee discharge its assignment.

The Ministry also stated that they were also expected to indicate their contact addresses and telephone numbers to enable the Committee reach out to them if and when the need arises.

LEADERSHIP recall that Plateau Network for Social Justice and Reform (PNSJR) recently condemned the continuous protests by a cross-section of workers at the NMDC Jos, which has disrupted activities of the Centre for more than eight weeks

The workers had embarked on protests demanding for the immediate removal of the Director-General of the Centre, alleging maladministration.

But, 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,” the group stated.