Dismissed Civil Servants Beg Tinubu, Akpabio to Restore Their Jobs

Hundreds of dismissed federal civil servants have launched an urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, demanding reinstatement after losing their positions under previous administrative decisions. The workers, many of whom served for years in various government ministries, say the loss of employment has devastated their families and left them with no source of income.

Workers Describe Daily Struggles After Losing Government Posts

Francis Okonkwo, who spent eleven years working at the Federal Ministry of Finance before his dismissal, told journalists outside the National Assembly grounds that he now struggles to afford basic necessities for his children. "I was removed from service in 2022 and since then I have been wandering," Okonkwo said. "No compensation, no explanation that makes sense, nothing." His testimony reflects the plight of dozens of others who have gathered periodically to press their case before Nigerian authorities.

The dismissed workers say they received little warning before termination letters arrived. Several claimed the criteria used for their removal remained unclear, while others alleged procedural lapses in how the decisions were made. The workers maintain they were never given a fair opportunity to defend themselves against whatever charges led to their dismissal.

Appeal Lands on Desks of Tinubu and Akpabio

The petition submitted to both the presidency and the Senate requests immediate review of all dismissal cases carried out during the previous administration. Akpabio, who presides over the Senate, faces pressure from multiple corners as displaced workers and their representatives push for legislative intervention. The Senate President has not publicly responded to the specific petition, though his office has acknowledged receiving similar appeals in recent months.

Adamu Suleiman, a representative for the group of dismissed workers, said the workers have exhausted internal channels without success. "We have written to the Ministry of Establishment. We have written to the Presidency. All we get are polite acknowledgments and then silence," Suleiman stated. The workers are now hoping that public attention and parliamentary scrutiny will force action where bureaucratic channels have failed.

History of Federal Workforce Reductions in Nigeria

Successive Nigerian governments have carried out workforce restructuring at various points, often citing the need to trim bloated public payrolls. The Federal Character Commission has at times been involved in reviewing staffing levels across ministries and agencies to ensure geographic representation. However, labour advocates argue that genuine reforms must include safeguards for due process and mechanisms for affected workers to seek redress.

The civil servants currently seeking reinstatement claim their dismissals targeted them unfairly while colleagues with similar records retained their positions. Some allege the process was influenced by personal grudges or tribal considerations, though such claims are difficult to verify independently. The workers are calling for an independent panel to examine individual cases rather than having their fate decided solely by the executive arm.

What Comes Next for the Dismissed Workers

The National Assembly is currently in session, and sources within the Senate suggest the matter may surface during upcoming committee hearings on the federal civil service. If senators choose to investigate, they could summon officials from the Ministry of Establishment and the Office of the Head of Service to explain the basis for the dismissals. Such a hearing would provide a public forum for affected workers to present their grievances directly to lawmakers.

Whether the Tinubu administration will entertain mass reinstatement requests remains unclear. Government critics point out that approving such demands could set a precedent, potentially encouraging future dismissed workers to seek political reversal of administrative decisions. Meanwhile, the families of the affected workers continue to wait for answers that have been delayed for years. The coming weeks will test whether Nigerian political institutions can provide meaningful relief to citizens who say they have been left with no other recourse.

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