Protest: 58 NMDC Staff Suspended Over Alleged Breach Of Public Service Rule

The Federal Ministry of Steel Development (MSD) has suspended 58 staff members of the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), Jos, Plateau State, over the continuous protest that has paralysed activities at the Centre.

The suspension was conveyed through a memo titled “Notice of Suspension,” 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 the Centre.

“I am directed to inform you that the Honourable Minister has constituted a disciplinary/investigative committee to investigate the matter and make necessary recommendations that will ensure a 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,” the memo read.

According to the memo, the affected staff were required to leave the agency’s premises immediately and would not be allowed to perform any duties or functions related to their positions during this period.

Similarly, suspended persons were not entitled to salary or benefits during the period of their suspension, and they were also required to return all agency property to their supervisors or the Human Resources Department.

The suspension notice further added that in the course of further investigation, the affected staff will be called upon for interrogation or clarification, and will be required
to cooperate fully by providing helpful information or documentation that will assist the Committee investigating the issue.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the Plateau Network for Social Justice and Reform (PNSJR) had recently condemned the continuous protests by a section of workers at NMDC, Jos, which has led to the disruption of activities for more than eight weeks.

The protesting workers were demanding the immediate removal of the Director-General of the Centre over a claim of maladministration.

In a statement by its president, Timothy Dallak, and Secretary, Hon. Daniel Abubakar, the PNSJR expressed disappointment over the continued protests despite what it called the efforts of Professor Linus Asuquo-led management to reposition the Centre.

The group emphasised that the Centre was lying prostrate before the appointment of Professor Asuquo, noting that the call for his removal was surprising.

According to the group, the call for Asuquo’s removal was flimsy, especially since the implementation of the workers’ demands fell outside his authority.

“Our findings revealed that the protest is being sponsored by a few insiders who perceived Asuquo’s leadership, particularly, the renewal of his tenure as a threat to their atrocities, as well as a means to force his removal for one of them, who is about to retire, to take over the Centre’s leadership,” the group claimed.