Hundreds of sacked members of staff of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on Tuesday trooped to the National Assembly complex, barricading its entrance in protest of the Legislature’s failure to address an earlier petition on their sack.
The protesters, numbering more than 400, delayed the commencement of the day’s activities at the Assembly, as some lawmakers could not gain entry into the complex.
While addressing the demonstrators, Police DPO attached to the complex, CSP Shehu, Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, Minority Leader, George Akume and Senator Abu Ibrahim begged the aggrieved former NIMC workers to calm down and give space for amicable resolution of their grievances.
Ningi particularly promised that the NIMC management would be made to appear in his office by 2pm in order to address their case.
His words, “This is the first time this matter is brought to my notice and I will ensure that the right thing is done. This message I just delivered is from the Senate President, David Mark.”
Leader of the sacked workers had voiced their displeasure with the Assembly, to which it submitted a petition, through the House Committee on Public Petitions, last month without hearing anything on the matter.
“We had to barricade this place because we got a letter from the office of the SGF disengaging us and we confirmed that the letter emanated from there,” he said. “All we want is justice for those who were wrongfully terminated and those of us who had worked for over 34 years and were not duly compensated.”
Tuesday’s protest marked the third time in the last three months that the sacked NIMC staff barricade the entrance of Assembly in protest of their sack, which the NIMC authorities initiated after the expiration of the six-year ultimatum given to the more than 4000 workers to acquire university education.
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