By Ossom Raphael

The staff union of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment under the auspices of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) on Wednesday paralyzed business activities and prevented access to offices in protest to what they described as a deplorable state of affairs of the Ministry.

The staff union in their hundreds were seen with placards with various inscription as well as chanting solidarity songs.

The Union is seeking the redeployment of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Evelyn Ngige who was deployed to the ministry in August 2021 for paralyzing economic activities of the ministry.

Addressing journalists during the protest, the Chairman of JNC, Comrade Onwuyai Okonkwo said the protest became necessary following series of consultations and intervention with staff on the state of affairs in the Ministry since August 2021 when the current Permanent Secretary assumed duty in the Ministry.

Okonkwo, said since the current Permanent Secretary assumped office, the Ministry has been in a deplorable state of affairs evidenced by low workers morale and poor service delivery.

He said: “The presence of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry can no longer guarantee industrial harmony.

“Consequently, staff unanimously resolved that the Permanent Secretary be redeployed with immediate effect to restore confidence and sense of harmony in the workplace.

“Staff requests that funds for payment of Training Allowance should be complete and made available to conclude the process on or before 15 November, 2021 all with a view to dousing the restive atmosphere already created by the unfolding events.”

He reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to good governance and service delivery in an atmosphere of industrial harmony.