A combined photo of Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa and logo
By Our Reporter
Based on NATIONAL WAVES expose on unethical conduct, disregard for due process and other unbecoming conducts levelled against the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, the staff of the Ministry through its union want the Director of General Services of the Ministry, Ali Abu Sufiyani, relieved of his job.
Staff of the ministry are currently protesting , calling for the removal of the director. Already, tension and uncertainty are palpable as staff are currently protesting the continued stay of the director , whom the protesting staff of the ministry have consistently accused of shady and unethical deals.
Top sources familiar with the protest squealed that the director was brought by the minister to replace a director said to have been posted elsewhere.
Authoritative sources told NATIONAL WAVES that Ali has allegedly been the arrowhead of a top shadowy mafia in the ministry who have been involved in unethical practices such as fathom purchase of cars , disregard for due process in contracts award and the siphoning of huge funds in the guise of renting a office. Ali is also alleged to be in the habit of signing out contracts without due process, and always bypassing laid down rules and procedures.
Staff protesting
Sources hinted that exquisite cars purchased plausibly for top ministry staff are diverted to Katsina among other serious allegations levelled against Ali said to be in the good book of the minister.
On Monday, the union posted what it called : NOTICE OF EMERGENCY CONGRESS MEETING
The notice reads: “Dear Respected Colleagues,
You are hereby notified that a compulsory Congress meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, 18th February, 2025.
Details:
– Venue: 7th Floor
– Time: 9:00 am
Attendance is mandatory for all Staff. Your presence is crucial and we expect to see you there as important issues affecting Staff will be discussed.
Thank you.”
Recall that a transparency coalition had earlier – relying on the Freedom of Information Act- wanted the ministry to clarify why four billion naira was earmarked for renting of office.
In a letter signed by the Executive Secretary of the Coalition, Dr. Chima Chibuike to the Ministry, the coalition requires more information on the sum of N3billion which had been allegedly paid to the landlord of the property in instalments.
The coalition seeks information on why the ministry paid a sum of N3billion out of the N4billion as rent without getting approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the glass house office which is located along ICPC Road Abuja, despite being above its threshold.
The said sum was allegedly split in segments to avoid detection and for a year and four months the rent is on.
The Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the Minister, Dr. Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, while reacting to the allegations said she was not aware of the office rented by the ministry. She added that “the ministry operates from the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.”
“We are located at the Federal Secretariat, Head of Service , First Floor. We have not rented any office for 4b”.
NATIONAL WAVES gathered that the Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy minister, Hannatu Musawa, has called for a meeting to resolve the impasse.
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