The Federal Ministry of Steel Development has suspended 58 workers of the National Metallurgical Development Centre, NMDC, Jos, Plateau State, following weeks of protests that have crippled operations at the agency.
The suspension, conveyed in an internal memo titled “Notice of Suspension”, was signed by the Director of Human Resource Management, Mrs Ijeoma Idika, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, and addressed to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre.
According to the memo, the affected staff were identified as having direct involvement in actions that allegedly contravened provisions of the Public Service Rules, specifically PSR 100301 (n) and (o), which border on misconduct and acts prejudicial to public service discipline.
“I am directed to inform you that the Honourable Minister has constituted a disciplinary and investigative committee to probe the matter and make recommendations that will ensure a lasting solution to the crisis,” the memo read.
It added that, in line with PSR 100406, the listed staff members were suspended from office with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The ministry directed the suspended workers to vacate the Centre’s premises immediately, stressing that they were barred from performing any official duties during the period of suspension.
It further stated that the affected staff would not be entitled to salaries or benefits and must return all government property in their possession to their supervisors or the Human Resources Department.
The memo also noted that the suspended officers would be invited for interrogation or clarification as investigations progress and warned that they must cooperate fully by providing relevant information or documents to aid the committee’s work.
The development followed over eight weeks of sustained protests by some NMDC workers, which reportedly paralysed activities at the Jos-based centre.
The protesting employees had been demanding the removal of the Director-General, Professor Linus Asuquo, over allegations of maladministration.
However, a civil society group, the Plateau Network for Social Justice and Reform, had condemned the protests, describing them as unjustified and disruptive.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Timothy Dallak, and Secretary, Daniel Abubakar, the group expressed dismay that the demonstrations persisted despite what it described as ongoing efforts by the Professor Asuquo-led management to reposition the Centre.
The group argued that NMDC had been largely inactive before Asuquo’s appointment and described the calls for his removal as “surprising and flimsy,” noting that some of the workers’ demands were outside the Director-General’s statutory powers.
“Our findings revealed that the protest is being sponsored by a few insiders who see the renewal of Professor Asuquo’s tenure as a threat to their interests and alleged atrocities,” the group claimed.
“The aim is to force his removal and pave the way for one of them, who is close to retirement, to take over the leadership of the Centre.”
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