The Association of Senior Staff Union of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) rose from its annual congress in Abuja and embarked on a solidarity rally around the city in support of the management of the agency, which it commended for delivering on its objectives.

According to a statement by Comrade Ibrahim Sumaila on behalf of the Congress, the new Caretaker Chairman, Comrade Yinka Agaba, said that the workers are pleased and impressed with efforts of the Director General, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja, and other stakeholders of the agency in the restoration of lasting peace and sanity to the Northeast region and other parts of the country.

Comrade Agaba in the statement issued on Wednesday enumerated the great strides of the agency’s management, with support from the Presidency, to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), victims of violent clashes, returnees from dangerous overseas travels and other victims of social and natural disasters in Nigeria got a new lease of life.

Agaba said that, as civil servants who have the responsibility to serve Nigeria, it was incumbent on the workers to stand up for fairness and truth and commend the agency’s leadership where it had discharged its mandate adequately.

He assured that the union would always stand up for good leadership, efficiency and the huge investment of government in the social development of the people affected by the agency’s mandate.

“We would no longer keep mute when good conscience and truth are circumvented. All the self-serving individuals whose interests are at variance with public good and governance will no longer be allowed to decimate our efforts and goodwill. We shall not allow further erosion of the ethics of public service and governance,” Agaba further said.

He added: “This very important agency shall be insulated from the mucky waters of politics and endless negative propaganda in the name of self-aggrandisement and greed of those who want to reclaim grounds which were lost when charlatans held sway.”

Agaba described as irresponsible and unpatriotic efforts by those he described as “unscrupulous elements” who are bent on sabotaging stakeholders in their determination to address the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons in the Northeast zone. “What can be more heinous than sabotage and mischief which have been the major pre-occupation of these elements who become tools and agents of politicians who see nothing good in what this administration is doing through NEMA,” he declared.

Agaba said that the present Federal Government has demonstrated goodwill and benevolence in its resolve to end banditry and insurgency, and should therefore be supported by all stakeholders.

Among the top officials of NEMA in attendance at the congress were the Director of Human Resources, Babande Saleh; and four Assistant Directors Bahir Garga (Welfare), Suleiman Yakub (Appointment and Promotions), Saheed Akiode (Discipline), and Chinwe Opara (Human Resources).

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