The Management Committee of the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC) in Jos has expressed strong confidence in the leadership of its Director General and Chief Executive, Prof. Linus Asuquo. This endorsement is grounded in his proven track record and the remarkable progress achieved under his tenure.
In a formal letter addressed to the Minister of Steel Development, the committee responded to the ongoing staff protests titled “Re: Asuquo must go protest by some members of staff of the Centre in Jos organized by the three union leaders, ASURI, NASU and SSAUTHRIAI.”
Reports indicate that certain employees are demanding the removal of Prof. Asuquo, citing allegations of corruption and unpaid salaries for August 2020, among other grievances.
The letter, co-signed by the Director of Finance and Administration, Ugor Joel; Head of Metallurgy Department, Mohammed Yakubu; and Head of Research Development and Consultant Services, Dada Emily, emphasized that these concerns are not new and are currently under investigation by relevant authorities including the National Assembly, Ministry of Steel Development, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
They stressed, “It is inappropriate for any individual or group to escalate these issues through protests while official inquiries are ongoing. The non-payment of August 2020 salaries is not attributable to Prof. Linus Asuquo.”
The letter further explained that the salary delay resulted from budgetary constraints linked to the disbursement of unauthorized special allowances, as outlined in a communication from the Federal Ministry of Finance (Reference No. FMF/CMD/SALARY/0564/Vol.1/424, dated 21st October 2020), titled: Notice of inability to Release August 2020 salary through GIFMIS Platform.
The committee dismissed the motives behind the protests as unfounded, noting that despite the Permanent Secretary’s efforts to address the situation, a small faction of staff and union leaders persist in their demonstrations, thereby undermining established authority.
They appealed to the Minister of Steel Development to disregard the accusations, affirming that Prof. Linus Asuquo’s international stature and expertise are invaluable assets to the Centre.
Highlighting the Centre’s national significance, the committee urged a comprehensive investigation to identify and discipline those orchestrating the disruptive actions driven by personal agendas.
They also expressed concern that the ongoing unrest has stalled government operations for over two weeks and called on the Ministry to urgently intervene to restore order and functionality at the Centre.
