Workers lock out finance ministry,tackle perm sec

Workers lock finance ministry,tackle perm sec. Workers lock out finance ministry,tackle perm sec By Okechukwu Jombo Business activities were on Wednesday paralyzed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Finance, Abuja. For about three hours, the workers of the ministry grounded business activities over what they described as poor welfare conditions. Our correspondent, who witnessed the protest, reported that the workers barricaded the gate of the ministry, preventing visitors from either gaining entrance to the ministry nor going out. The workers accused the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Anastasia Nwoabia, of deliberately denying them some of the benefits that should accrue to them based on the civil service rules. The workers, who defied the Wednesday morning downpour in Abuja, said since the Permanent Secretary assumed office few months ago, members of staff had been experiencing difficulties in getting some of their allowances, such as overtime and training allowances. They also accused her of tactically stopping some of the perks that should be given to them during festive periods. Nwoabi, who was at the building during the protest, appeared restless as her movement were restricted by the workers. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who might have been able to placate the workers, was said not to be in the office during the protest. She was said to be attending the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa. All pleas by top directors of the ministry for the workers to stop the protest fell on deaf ears as the protest was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.