The protest by staff of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs speaks to a deeper issue of accountability and governance in Nigeria’s public service.
Development Diaries reports that employees of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs recently staged a protest at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, openly expressing dissatisfaction with Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim over alleged neglect, arrogance, and poor leadership.
According to reports, the staff booed the minister, chanting that she ‘does nothing’ to support the daily operations of the ministry.
They said the ministry has been starved of basic work tools, including stationery, while the minister maintains an entourage of more than 25 special assistants.
Beyond the drama of boos and chants, this is also about how leadership is exercised. Good governance is not just about policies; it is about accessibility, dialogue, and respect.
While the minister later released a press statement, regretfully, the press statement did not address the cause of the protest, but rather shifted blame.
The statement noted that ‘The Honourable Minister, a certified human resource manager with years of practical experience, understands that staff welfare, motivation, and professional development are vital to institutional performance. These are areas she takes seriously and continues to advocate for within the limits of available resources.
‘However, it is important to clarify that the minister is not the Chief Accounting Officer of the ministry. Issues of finance and staff administration fall under the Permanent Secretary, who is expected to engage the directors, assess the grievances raised, and provide appropriate recommendations’.
When staff feel ignored or dismissed, the disconnect undermines the very institution they are meant to serve. This is why transparency and communication are so important, public officials cannot act like they are above accountability.
Ministries are not private estates, they are funded by taxpayers and exist to deliver services, and workers are not asking for the impossible, they want basic tools to function and leaders who are present and responsive.
A ministry that exists to protect the rights of women and vulnerable groups should not itself be an example of neglect.
At the same time, this conversation cannot ignore the gender and leadership angle. Having a woman in charge of the Ministry of Women Affairs should ideally project inclusivity and empathy, but moments like this might reinforce stereotypes about women in power.
Development Diaries calls on Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim to take this as an opportunity to rebuild trust, by listening, engaging with staff, and showing that leadership is about service, not status.
Photo source: FMWA
