The controversy surrounding the suspended Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Lamuwa, continues to deepen as three more women have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment. The initial allegations were brought to the Head of Service by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, based on a petition submitted by staff member Simisola Ajayi.
Ambassador Lamuwa, who has been suspended from his position, has denied the allegations, claiming that the complainant misunderstood the instances of alleged sexual harassment.
However, PRNigeria has discovered that at least three additional women have approached the investigative panel to file similar complaints against the Permanent Secretary.
Compounding the issue, the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), the labor union within the Ministry, has accused the Permanent Secretary of high-handedness, maladministration, favoritism, and financial improprieties. These actions, according to the JNC, have significantly impacted the welfare and rights of the Ministry’s workers.
In a petition dated June 11, 2024, addressed to Minister Ambassador Tuggar, the staff union criticized the Permanent Secretary for neglecting staff welfare, allowances, emoluments, training, and related issues. The petition highlighted the denial of various benefits entitled to the workers, which has been a source of discontent for months.
PRNigeria obtained a copy of the petition, which detailed several benefits that workers were entitled to but had been denied by Ambassador Lamuwa. The union accused him of unduly and illegally favoring a select group of individuals while victimizing those who did not comply with his wishes regarding postings, training, and other benefits, including Hajj seats.
The petition enumerated multiple alleged offenses by the Permanent Secretary, such as delays in the payment of benefits, promotion, and staff conversion; lack of transparency in posting exercises; delays in clothing allowance payments; discrimination in the First 28 Days Allowance; unfair distribution of 2024 Hajj seats; inadequate posting of Batch B officers to foreign missions; poor sanitation and hygiene due to insufficient water supply; lack of work tools; dilapidated office buildings; and refusal to pay the 25th regular course allowance for nine months.
The petition, signed by JNC Chairman Comrade Ali Seidu and Assistant General Secretary Comrade Akpana S.E, urged the Minister to address their complaints and the series of alleged injustices committed by the Permanent Secretary to avoid drastic measures from the workers.