Angry workers storm Finance Ministry, protest over unpaid allowances

Members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria staged a protest on Monday at the Federal Ministry of Finance, effectively shutting down access to the premises in Abuja.

Clad in red shirts, the demonstrators blocked the main gate, disrupting vehicular movement in and out of the ministry complex. The protest was driven by frustrations over unpaid allowance arrears and the prolonged withholding of internally generated revenue (IGR).

The scene was marked by chants and placards demanding immediate government intervention.

Addressing journalists, Patrick Solomon, the Industrial Relations Officer of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) branch, condemned the Ministry’s inaction.

“We are here to express our disappointment over the government’s insensitivity to our demands,” he said. “Despite exploring every possible avenue to resolve these issues, our concerns have consistently been ignored.”

According to Solomon, the union’s internally generated funds have been withheld for over 15 months, severely impacting operations and staff welfare.

“It has been extremely difficult to function in the office under these conditions. Allowances have not been paid, and the situation has persisted despite our repeated appeals to the minister. It’s now clear he is not ready to engage with us,” he added.