After two days of protest by workers of the ministry of finance which led to a total shut down of business activities at the headquarters of the ministry, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi aadeosun on Wednesday finally showed up at the ministry.
The finance minister who had for the past two days avoided the protesting workers by staying away from the office arrived at the ministry at about 8am with her convoy amidst tight security.
An indication that the minister would come to the office was given during the early hours of the day as over 70 security personnel from the Nigerian Police Force were stationed at strategic locations both within and outside the premises of the ministry.
Their presence according to one of them who spoke in confidence was to prevent a break down of the law and order and to also forestall any form of attack on the minister,
The workers had for the past two days protested the non payment of their Special Overtime Allowance which according to them is about N1.2bn.
The ministry had insisted that the amount is illegal as such allowance is not captured in the financial regulation or the 2016 budget.
As was the case in the last two days, they also blocked all entrances leading to the ministry to prevent the conduct of business activities.
As soon as the protesting workers saw the convoy of the minister approaching the ministry, they rushed to the gate to prevent her from gaining access to the ministry.
They started shouting “Adeosun must go, she must go,” “We want change, give us change,” among others.
For about ten minutes, the workers prevented the finance minister from gaining access to the ministry as they insisted that she must address their plights right at the gate before she could come in.
After the law enforcement agents prevailed on the angry workers for about ten minutes, Adeosun alighted from her vehicle and was asked by the workers to walk into the ministry on foot which she did.
The protesting workers vowed that except the minister addresses their plights, she would be prevented from attending the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting which holds today.
She is currently holding a meeting with the workers union on the issue of their welfare. – Punch.
