Protesters Rally in Abuja Backing Women Affairs Minister Amid Calls for Removal

Protesters on Friday stormed the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja, urging President Bola Tinubu and Head of Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, to disregard demands for the removal of Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim.

The demonstration, organized in response to an earlier protest by some civil servants who accused the minister of neglecting workers’ welfare, was staged to show solidarity with Suleiman-Ibrahim. Organizers described the allegations against her as politically motivated.

Leading the protest, Emmanuel Lawal, Director of Public Enlightenment at the Centre for Accountability and Public Engagement, condemned the previous demonstration as an “embarrassment” to the Federal Government and the minister’s office. He praised the minister’s ongoing reforms, which he said align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to Lawal, “We are aware of plots from both her home state of Nasarawa and at the centre, where certain individuals have instigated protests to discredit her. We stand ready to defend the truth and counter false narratives against Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim.”

The protesters urged the minister not to be discouraged, pledging continued support for her leadership and commitment to national service.