Management Committee of the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC) Jos has passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the director general/chief executive of the centre, Prof Linus Asuquo, based on his antecedents and the uncommon transformation demonstrated over the years in office.
The committee made its position known in a letter addressed to the Minister of Steel Development titled “Re: Asuquo must go protest by some members of staff of the Centre in Jos organized by the three union leaders, ASURI, NASU and SSAUTHRIAI.”
LEADERSHIP reports that some of the staff are protesting for the removal of the DG over allegation of corruption and none payment of August 2020 salary among many others.
According to the letter which was jointly signed by the director of Finance and Administration, Ugor Joel,
head of Department Metallurgy, Mohammed Yakubu and head of Department, Research Development and Consultant Services, Dada Emily argued that the matters raised are not new and are already being investigated by competent authorities such as the National Assembly, Ministry of Steel Development, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission.
“It is therefore prejudicial for anyone or group to escalate these issues through protest while due process is still ongoing.The non payment of August, 2020 salary is not the making of Prof Linus Asuquo.”
It further stressed, “It is occasioned by insufficient fund due to the payment of unapproved peculiar allowance as can be seen in a letter, reference No. FMF/CMD/SALARY/0564/Vol.1/424 from Federal Ministry of Finance, dated 21st October, 2020, and titled: Notice of inability to Release August 2020 salary through GIFMIS Platform.”
The committee maintained that the ambition of the sponsors and drivers of the protest is baseless adding that despite the good intentions of the permanent secretary to resolve the situation, occasioned by few elements and so-called union leaders, they have the effrontery to continue to protest till date, thereby showing disrespect to constituted authority.
“We kindly appeal to the Minister of Steel Development to disregard the allegations for lack of merit as Prof Linus Asuquo with his international repute and pedigree remain divine gifts to the Centre.”
According to them, the Centre, as a national edifice can not be sacrificed at the alter of personal interest urging for a thorough investigation to unmask the sponsors and drivers of this unruly behaviour for appropriate disciplinary measures.
They further lamented that the unruly act of this category of staff have grounded the activities of government for over two weeks now while calling on the ministry to as a matter of urgency intervene with a view to bring sanity to the Centre .
