Protest in Abuja as Workers Reject President Buhari's Latest Appointment (Photo)

Workers protesting Buhari's appointment of Ayine as Auditor-General (Photo: Punch) 

Following protests by the Nigerian workers union early on Monday, the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation was shut for three hours as the staff rejected the appointment of Anthony Ayine by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Auditor-General for the Federation.

According to a report by Punch newspaper, the workers who were also joined in the protest by a coalition of civil society group arrived the Audit House which is the headquarters of the Office of the Auditor General as early as 6am and halted business activities at the office.


In a letter by the president to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on December, 13, Buhari had noted that in line with constitutional requirement, the Federal Civil Service Commission had recommended Ayine for appointment as the Auditor-General for the Federation.

But the workers said they are rejecting his nomination claiming that as a local government employee, Ayine was not qualified to head the agency. For over three hours, the workers carried placards which portrayed massages indicating their grievances with the appointment of someone who they claimed was not qualified for the position.

Some of the inscriptions written on the placards are; “Bringing an outsider as Auditor General would jeopardize our future. We need internal succession. We once had an outsider and it failed us.” Speaking to journalists at the sidelines of the protest, the Chairman of the workers’ union, Aina Abiodun said the workers are rejecting the nominee on the grounds that the office of the Auditor General for the federation is a constitutional office based on career progression.

He said since the office is not a political position, any appointment must be done based on career progression.

“The OAGF is a constitutional office based on career progression and not a political office. “It is not for the highest bidder. There is career retardation in the office and as such we are asking the president to please help the audit institution to address this anomalies and inadequacies.

“The OAGF can boast of no more than 50 chartered accountants who have put in more than 25 years in service and as such we say no to nomination of Anthony Ayine, we need internal succession.”

The protest which lasted till about 11am was suspended following the intervention of some top directors in the office of the auditor general.