Workers of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) have shut down the organisation’s headquarters in Abuja over alleged interference in union activities by its Director-General, Nnayelugo Martins Ikemounso.
Members of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) barricaded the entrance to the headquarters, preventing workers and visitors from entering or leaving the premises.
The protest disrupted official activities as the aggrieved workers demanded that management address their complaints.
Their demands include the payment of outstanding union dues deducted from members’ salaries since August 2026, official recognition of their association and protection of workers’ rights to join and participate in union activities.
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They also called on management to stop interfering in the association’s internal affairs.
Speaking during the protest, the Acting General Secretary of SSASCGOC, Akin Okudero, said the union would continue occupying the council’s premises until its demands were met.
He also demanded the immediate removal of Ikemounso, accusing him of refusing to recognise the association while allegedly favouring another labour union for personal interests.
Okudero said the association had made several attempts to resolve the disagreement through dialogue before deciding to embark on industrial action.
According to him, management failed to respond despite receiving several notices from the union.
He explained that the association initially issued a seven-day notice, followed by another week to allow management to address the situation.
However, after receiving no satisfactory response, the union served a final three-day notice of picketing before mobilising its members to the headquarters.
The union leader accused the Director-General of intimidating members, suppressing their rights and failing to respect their contributions to the organisation.
Police officers were present at the premises to maintain order during the demonstration, but the protesters maintained that security presence would not stop them from pursuing their demands.
The industrial action followed the alleged failure of RMRDC management to address the association’s grievances after a seven-working-day ultimatum issued on September 23, 2026.
In a circular dated November 6, 2026, the association announced that it had issued a final three-day picketing notice to the Director-General.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain a response from Ikemounso over the allegations were unsuccessful, as his whereabouts could not be established at the time of the report.
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