There was tension at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, as workers locked out the Minister, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, over allegations of neglect and poor staff welfare.
The protesting staff, who gathered in large numbers at the ministry’s headquarters in the Central Area, blocked the entrance gates, chanting solidarity songs and calling for the Minister’s removal.
According to the workers, several attempts had been made to engage the Minister since her deployment to the ministry in October 2024, but she allegedly ignored their concerns. A scheduled meeting for Wednesday reportedly turned sour after the Minister arrived late and walked past both union leaders and staff into her office without addressing them.
Union representatives accused the Minister of failing to provide basic work tools, training support, and staff welfare packages. They alleged that workers had been forced to use personal funds to purchase stationery and clean their offices due to the absence of cleaners.
The protesters further claimed that funds allocated for staff welfare were being diverted by the Minister and her aides without proper accountability. Reports also indicated that even the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry had raised similar concerns to the Minister without any positive response.
As of the time of filing this report, the ministry gates remained locked, with the Minister yet to respond to the allegations or address the aggrieved workers.
This incident adds to the growing tension in some federal ministries under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, where labour disputes and welfare issues continue to spark unrest.
