Staff of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs have received assurances of improved welfare from Minister Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, following a recent protest over poor working conditions.
The minister gave the commitment during a town hall meeting with management and staff on Friday in Abuja, according to a statement by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jonathan Eze.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasised that she bore no grudges against protesting staff, stressing that unity, dialogue, and mutual respect were the best tools for resolving disputes.
“We should all be human beings first before anything else. Unity is the only way forward. I have nothing against anyone, and I believe we can solve our challenges through dialogue and mutual respect,” she said.
She reaffirmed that staff welfare remained a top priority under her leadership but noted that some administrative duties fell under the responsibility of the Permanent Secretary and Directors.
As a gesture of goodwill, the minister distributed a 50kg bag of rice to each worker present at the meeting.
Union Chairperson, Mrs. Anne Orjiobele, Comrade Success Alake, and other staff representatives admitted that the protest had been misdirected and pledged renewed cooperation with the minister. They also urged continued attention to welfare matters, including housing, training opportunities, and inclusion.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim assured workers that their concerns would be addressed within available resources, emphasising the ministry’s role as the “conscience of the country” in protecting women, children, families, and vulnerable groups.
