By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Jos
Operations at the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC) in Jos were on Wednesday crippled as staff staged a massive protest against the management, accusing the Director General, Linus Ikon Asuquo, of misappropriation of funds, abuse of office, and disregard for public service rules.
The aggrieved workers, under the umbrella of three unions—the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutes (ASURI), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Teaching Hospitals Research and Allied Installations (SSAUTHRIAI)—shut down the agency’s headquarters while chanting solidarity songs.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Asuquo must go,” “Stop victimization in NMDC,” and “NMDC needs change of leadership,” the protesters accused the management of corruption, poor welfare, intimidation of staff, and allowing vital equipment to rot.
Addressing journalists during the protest, the chairman of ASURI, Henry Mwanle, said workers had lost confidence in the current leadership. “Our action today is a clear message of dissatisfaction over the mismanagement at the Centre. Staff welfare has collapsed, corruption has become the order of the day, and the institution is gradually dying,” he said.
The chairman of NASU, Joseph Emmanuel, described NMDC as “already dead,” alleging that mismanagement had crippled operations. “But as unions, we will not allow it to be buried. We will fight to revive NMDC. We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to give us a new DG,” he said.
On his part, Michael Philip of SSAUTHRIAI accused the management of embezzling funds despite huge allocations from the federal government. “This institution is one of its kind in Africa, but since 2018 it has gradually ground to a halt. Records show that more than ₦2 billion was spent in 2023, yet there is nothing to show for it,” he alleged.
The unions called on President Tinubu and Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, to urgently intervene to prevent the centre from total collapse.
When contacted, the DG, Linus Ikon Asuquo, declined to respond to calls and messages.
However, NMDC spokesperson, Sunny Eweama, confirmed that allegations against the DG were already under investigation by the EFCC, ICPC, the Ministry of Steel Development, and the National Assembly.
“The issues raised are not new. They are being handled by relevant anti-corruption agencies. It is best to allow them to complete their investigations and issue reports,” he said.
Eweama also linked the latest agitation to the removal of an “unapproved allowance” in November 2024 by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, which staff had previously enjoyed.
The protesting staff vowed to sustain their action until accountability is restored and leadership changes at the centre.