Workers Lock Out Women Affairs Minister Over Alleged Neglect

Abuja, Nigeria – September 10, 2025 – Tension erupted at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs on Wednesday as disgruntled workers staged a protest, locking out the Minister, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, over alleged prolonged neglect and poor working conditions.

In a dramatic move, a large number of staff blocked the entrance to the Ministry’s headquarters in the Central Area of Abuja. Chanting solidarity songs and wielding placards, they demanded the immediate removal or redeployment of the Minister, accusing her of ignoring the welfare of workers since assuming office in October 2024.

“This protest is our last resort,” said one aggrieved staff member. “We have made several efforts to meet with the Minister to discuss these issues, but she has refused to engage us.”

The long-standing grievances came to a head after a scheduled meeting between the Minister and staff was reportedly snubbed by the Minister herself. According to multiple sources, the Minister kept the entire staff, including the Permanent Secretary and Directors, waiting for over four hours, only to arrive and ignore the gathering.

“She didn’t greet anyone or offer an apology. She just walked into her office and never came down,” a staff member recounted. “We waited patiently for another hour, but nothing. That was the breaking point.”

‘We Clean the Toilets Ourselves’ – Union Leader Laments

Union leader Alake Success spoke to journalists during the protest, painting a grim picture of the state of the Ministry under Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s leadership.

“She doesn’t care about the staff. The former Minister, Uju Ohanenye, was far better. We have no working tools, no statutory welfare, no training – nothing,” he said.

Success further alleged that the Ministry’s overhead allocation is being mismanaged, suggesting that the Minister and her over 25 aides benefit from funds while basic office operations are left to suffer.

“We buy our own stationery, clean the offices and toilets ourselves, and even use personal funds to carry out official duties. The cleaners have long disappeared. This is unacceptable.”

According to the union leader, attempts to address the issues through the Permanent Secretary have also yielded no results, as she allegedly acknowledged that her efforts to get the Minister’s attention were ignored.

Calls for Immediate Action

The protesting workers are demanding that Sulaiman-Ibrahim be either removed or reassigned to another Ministry, arguing that her leadership style is unsuitable for a Ministry tasked with promoting the welfare of women and vulnerable populations.

As of the time of this report, the gates of the Ministry remained locked, and the Minister had yet to issue any public statement or address the protesters’ concerns.

Source: The Sun