Hundreds of sacked workers of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) at the early hours of today barricaded the main entrance of the National Assembly complex, to protest against the resolution of the House of Representation in approval of their disengagement from the service.
Members of the House of Representatives had penultimate week approved the sack of the 4,000 workers and recommended their re-absorption into various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Going by the report of the Stephen Oronsanye on public service reform, our Correspondent gathered that the latter recommendation would not materialise, as the implementation of the report may lead to sack of thousands of workers and merger of some federal agencies and parastatals.
While bemoaning the House resolution, the disengaged staffs, Useh Fidelis, spokesman of the protesters argued that “about 4,000 staff of the commission were laid off without due process.”
Fidelis who explained that the affected workers had made several representations to the National Assembly without fruitful results, alleged that the interests of Nigerians were not put into consideration by the House.
While some of the protesting ex-workers are demanding for reinstatement, a handful of the workers demanded for immediate payment of their severance package.
Meanwhile the Senators and members of the House of Representatives on resumption for Tuesday plenary, were compelled to use alternative entrance behind the National Assembly to enter into the complex.
This report was prepared by our report at the National Assembly, Abuja.