Tension escalated in Abuja on Tuesday as aggrieved employees of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), backed by members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), staged a forceful protest at the gates of the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Dressed in symbolic red attire and wielding placards with sharp messages, the demonstrators shut down the ministry’s headquarters in the nation’s capital, stalling normal operations and forcing many civil servants to abandon work for the day.
The protest was triggered by the prolonged withholding of the NNRA’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which serves as the primary source for paying staff salaries, pensions, and other entitlements.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, TUC’s Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, expressed dismay at the unexplained financial bottleneck. “There’s no justification for withholding the IGR of an agency that relies on it to pay its workforce and retirees,” he said. “Other similar agencies have received theirs, so this selective treatment is unacceptable.”
Toro also pointed to the worsening economic hardship faced by Nigerian workers. “The erosion of the minimum wage by skyrocketing inflation has pushed many families to the brink. Delaying salaries under such conditions is a direct assault on their welfare,” he stressed.
Despite the unrest, there was a glimmer of hope by mid-afternoon. Toro confirmed that the Finance Minister had approved the release of the funds following ongoing engagements with union leaders.
“We have received confirmation that approval has been granted. The Permanent Secretary has given assurances that disbursement will follow swiftly. As such, this protest is only suspended until Wednesday, May 21, pending implementation,” Toro announced.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in charge of Special Duties, Raymond Omachi, addressed the protesters with a calming message. He affirmed that the ministry was already processing the payments and that results should be expected within 48 hours.
“I’ve personally spoken to the Honourable Minister and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy. The directive is clear ensure that these outstanding payments are settled without further delay,” Omachi told the crowd. “Thank you for your patience. Your concerns have been noted, and actions are underway.”
The incident adds to a growing list of industrial tensions across the country as inflation, subsidy removal, and wage stagnation continue to affect the livelihood of Nigerian workers.
