Staff lock up refugee commission office in Abuja, demand sack of CEO

DDM News

Staff of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) have staged a protest in Abuja.

The protest led to the shutdown of the Commission’s head office, with workers demanding the immediate removal of the CEO, Aliyu Ahmed.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the aggrieved staff accused the CEO of high-handedness, mismanagement, and selective distribution of relief materials.

Ahmed, appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in September 2023, is facing serious internal backlash.

Before his appointment, he served in Nasarawa State as Secretary to the State Government and held key commissioner roles.

However, 21 months into his federal appointment, accusations of injustice and financial opacity have surfaced.

Allegations include neglect of staff welfare, misappropriation of the ecological fund, and skewed resource distribution.

Staff say only Nasarawa State, Ahmed’s home base, receives consistent relief materials while other states are sidelined.

One senior staff member, who spoke anonymously, revealed that several memos sent to Ahmed were ignored.

According to him, food and materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in other zones often expire due to non-distribution.

He lamented that while some zonal offices receive nothing, the Nasarawa office is repeatedly prioritized.

The anonymous official described the trend as “gross injustice” that undermines the Commission’s national mandate.

Protesting staff blocked the main entrance of the Abuja office, vowing to continue until the CEO is removed.

They carried placards with messages condemning favoritism, corruption, and leadership failure within the Commission.

Some of the inscriptions read: “Enough is Enough!”, “Relief Materials Are Not for Nasarawa Alone!” and “Aliyu Ahmed Must Go!”

Security operatives were seen monitoring the protest as workers chanted solidarity songs outside the premises.

Sources confirmed that this is not the first time the staff have raised concerns about poor leadership under Ahmed.

They alleged that since his assumption of office, staff morale has plummeted while complaints about corruption remain unaddressed.

Insiders said that the Commission has been operating under tension due to lack of inclusiveness in decision-making.

In many zonal offices, workers claim they have not received a single delivery of supplies since the beginning of 2024.

This situation, according to them, violates the primary mission of the Commission, which is to serve vulnerable populations nationwide.

Civil society groups and IDP representatives have reportedly expressed worry over the inefficiency of the Commission’s operations.

Some are calling for an independent investigation into how ecological and emergency funds are being managed by the agency.

DDM also learnt that internal audits allegedly revealed discrepancies in records of received and disbursed relief materials.

Though these reports remain unofficial, staff insist that the agency needs cleansing to restore credibility.

They called on President Tinubu to urgently intervene by appointing a competent and fair-minded replacement for Ahmed.

A memo from the protesters is expected to be submitted to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Meanwhile, Aliyu Ahmed has not yet issued a public response to the allegations or the office shutdown.

Attempts by DDM to reach the Commission’s spokesperson for comments were unsuccessful as of press time.

The NCFRMI was established to provide durable solutions for displaced persons, refugees, and migrants across Nigeria.

Its operations include coordinating aid distribution, resettlement programs, and refugee protection mechanisms.

However, with the ongoing crisis at its top leadership level, experts warn that the Commission’s effectiveness may be severely compromised.

As of this report, activities at the Commission’s headquarters remain suspended due to the staff’s ongoing occupation of the premises.

More updates are expected as the situation unfolds.

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