AMML staff protest over leadership crisis

By Stanley Onyekwere

Some distressed staff of Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) yesterday staged a peaceful protest to the gate of the FCT Administration pleading with the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola to intervene and expedite actions on the lingering leadership rocking the place.

The protesters, who marched around the premises with various placards, calling out the embattled and sacked former Managing Director, Alhaji Abubakar Faruk, noted that since the inception of the leadership crisis, AMML’s office at Gudu District has become a death trap.

They said staff now live in unprecedented fears and tension, following the deadly landmines which the crisis have subtly created.

It could be recalled that for the past two weeks, AMML has remained a theatre of dramas, after Faruk was sacked following the resolution of the Shareholders, with the endorsement of the Group Managing Director of Abuja Investments Company Ltd, Abubakar Maina( AICL ) the supervising agency over AMML.

Speaking on behalf of the protesting staff, Musa Sheleng, who is the Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government owned Companies(SSASCGOC), AMML decried the negative effects of the leadership on the staff.

He noted that staff members no longer feel safe, due to the heavy presence of security operatives that have continued to besiege the office.

Sheleng, also demanded that the leadership tussle be settle once and for all, to allow staff put in their best, in discharging their duties.

According to him, ” we are here to thank the Permanent Secretary for all he has been doing towards resolving the issues. But we are saying that he need to do more , because we are living in bandage.

” We are in an office where we can’t express ourselves. Some of us have been here as old as the company itself, but now the decision has brought enmity, and we are living in fears. You don’t know what happens as you come to work.

” It has been one episode of trouble to another. We want FCTA to stamp its final authority over the matter. We are aware of the Court cases, but we are saying the Permanent Secretary should come to the aid of AMML staff, so that we can have a lasting solution.The facilities and markets and staff are suffering”.