Protests: Women Affairs minister meets aggrieved workers

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, yesterday held an emotional town hall meeting at the Women Development Centre with ministry staff to address ongoing concerns, foster unity, and reinforce her dedication to advancing the presidential agenda for women.

Describing the ministry as “one family,” she appealed for mutual trust, respect, and collaboration as key to overcoming challenges and achieving collective progress.

In her remarks, the minister acknowledged the difficulties faced but assured that the challenges were part of work in progress demanding patience and team effort. She urged workers to trust the ministry’s leadership structures and cautioned against entitlement attitudes, highlighting that government work thrives on peace and cooperation.

She called the partnership between herself and the Permanent Secretary, Maryam Keshe, as a closed working relationship, which is a strong foundation for delivering impactful results for Nigerian women.

The minister clarified that her duties in the ministry were political and advocacy-based, while administrative and financial matters lied with specialised officials. She highlighted the importance of following proper bureaucratic procedures and warned that withholding files or information obstructs progress. Sulaiman-Ibrahim also urged the staff to respect authority, embrace diplomacy, and work harmoniously to strengthen the ministry’s broad mandate covering women, children, families, and vulnerable groups.

During the meeting with union executives and senior management, the minister underscored that the ministry must approach its internal issues with love, patience, and open dialogue – qualities she likened to a family resolving its problems.

The Permanent Secretary, Keshinro, reiterated that staff motivation and well-being were central to the ministry’s success and assured that stronger communication and engagement with employees would be institutionalised through dialogue sessions, consultations, and capacity-building initiatives.

Female chief executives of the government agencies, led by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, were at the forum to show solidarity with the minister amid ongoing staff protests.

The chairman of the joint unions in the ministry, Anne Ojubele, assured the minister that the protests weren’t to embarrass her but to draw her attention to the challenges they faced in the line of duty.