In a shocking display of discontent, staff members of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) in Nigeria took to the streets to protest against their Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Gloria Akobundu.
The protesters, who staged a demonstration at the organization’s headquarters, voiced their deep frustration and disappointment with Akobundu’s leadership, accusing her of turning the government institution into a family enterprise.
“We have been suffering and talking to her, but she doesn’t want to listen,” said Aliu Abubakar, a staff member. “We have decided to make our grievances known so that the whole world will hear us, and we, by this protest, are calling on President Bola Tinubu to do the needful by sacking the CEO.”
The staff alleged that Akobundu has been engaging in maladministration and financial misappropriation since she took office in 2016.
They claimed that she has denied workers their official duties, instead employing her relatives and non-NEPAD staff members to carry out official tasks. “Our duties are being handled by her aides,” said Abubakar.
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“She has illegally placed her brother as a non-civil servant at the continental office in South Africa.”
The protesters also accused Akobundu of contracting out departmental programs, denying staff members the opportunity to participate in official activities.
“Sometimes we will be in our various rooms, and we just see on the television that some activities, some programs are going on,” said Abubakar. “But to our greatest surprise, instead, we see other people who are non-NEPAD staff. So, she picks some persons outside to come and pretend as if they are NEPAD staff.
Meanwhile, the real bonafide NEPAD staff are not the ones benefiting or participating in those programs.”
In response to the allegations, Akobundu denied any wrongdoing, stating that she has done her best for the staff and that the issue is a family matter that will be resolved adequately.
However, the staff insisted that the organization is being run like a private entity, and they called on President Tinubu to conduct an intensive investigation into the activities of AUDA-NEPAD.
