Minister of Works and housing, Dave Umahi has apologises to the ministry workers for locking them out yesterday. There was a protest yesterday at the ministry of works premises at Mabushi, Abuja when the minister directed that late comers should be locked out of the premises for reporting late for work. The minister got to his office ahead of some senior officials of the ministry where he directed that all late comers should be locked out and be denied access to their respective offices.
The minister after reviewing his action today decides to address the protesting workers where he tendered his apology to them for locking them out.
In his address, the minister said, “I would come to work and see workers coming to work by 12 O’clock, 1 O’clock. I have had to send some of them to the permanent secretary to talk to them.
He added, “just a week ago, I called all the directors and said to them: without discipline, it is difficult’. I come to work and asked for files; some of the staff is not yet in the office to provide the files.
“ by 3 O’clock i asked for files, some of the workers would have left. I cannot do without you, and you can as well not do without me.
“Today I come to work by 9:30 am, i had a number of files to transmit and not up to 5%of the workers were present.
“He added that he had to direct the director human resources that he needed to address the workers, he insisted that he needed to come to the gate to address the workers that was why they were locked out not as punishment.
The minister noted that when he treat his workers well, you are not doing them a favour but yourself as people saw what they reap in every dealing of their lives.
He therefore informed the workers that if they get offended by his action, he offers an unreserved apology to them, he said.
Umahi said, “You have to support me; am not fighting for myself, you have to support me to demand that when we pay contractors, they should respect us.
“We are together and i want to assure you that i love you, i want you to be on my side.let us fight this battle together and it is a battle that we must win.
He called on his workers that they need to reset the country for good, saying the agenda of renewed hope of president Tinubu must win.