Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has reassured protesting staff that she harbors no resentment toward their demands for better welfare, framing the recent uproar as a publicity boon for her office and the ministry's work.
The conciliatory remarks came during a town hall meeting at the National Centre for Women’s Development on Friday, days after ministry employees locked her out of the premises on Wednesday, September 10, in a dramatic show of frustration.
Staff, chanting solidarity songs, decried years of neglect, poor working conditions, and demanded the minister's ouster, highlighting unpaid allowances and stalled promotions amid Nigeria's economic hardships.
Addressing the gathering, Sulaiman-Ibrahim, a seasoned politician with prior ministerial stints, downplayed the incident.
“Let me tell you something, I’m not angry with any of you. I am a politician. We are used to scandals and crises. My concern was that there were concerns in the home, and we should iron them out. And that is why I came. I am not upset,” she stated, adding that the fallout had inadvertently boosted her profile:
“In fact, I’m even now a more popular politician. Because people who didn’t know me now know me. Everybody is going to research me. You know, look at my work. For me, you know, more positives have come out than the negatives.”
The minister, appointed in October 2024 under President Bola Tinubu's administration, emphasized her detachment from the role.
“You know, some people think that as a politician, you want to die in one seat. I am not that kind of politician, trust me. I have a lot of dreams. I am already a minister, not once, but twice. Nobody can take that out of my CV,” she remarked.
She reaffirmed her mandate to drive the Renewed Hope Agenda for women's empowerment, child protection, and gender equity, crediting Permanent Secretary Ambassador Gabriel Aduda for collaborative efforts.
“I know the problems we have, the Perm Sec has discussed with me. We have tried to be creative. Trust me, when she came, she spoke to me about welfare. I was the one who told her where we can pay welfare.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim appealed for unity and respect for hierarchy, noting the ministry's structure positions the permanent secretary as a key enabler.
“My role in the ministry is to push the agenda of Mr President for women forward, with all of our support. And the system brought the Permanent Secretary to enable that for me, that is the structure.”
The protest echoes broader tensions in federal ministries, where civil servants grapple with inflation-eroded salaries and delayed benefits. Staff welcomed the dialogue but remain wary, with one anonymous employee telling reporters post-meeting that "words must translate to action—our patience is wearing thin."
The minister's predecessor, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, faced similar controversies, including event disruptions over perceived mismanagement, underscoring persistent welfare gaps.
As the ministry eyes partnerships for women’s economic inclusion and anti-trafficking drives, this episode spotlights the need for internal harmony to deliver on national goals.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim's optimistic spin may foster reconciliation, but sustained reforms will be key to quelling unrest among the workforce tasked with uplifting Nigerian women and children.
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