Some of the affected aides on Wednesday confirmed to SaharaReporters that not only were they sacked by the minister, they have also not been paid for four months since the minister was appointed in August 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.
Nigeria's Minister for Steel Development, Shaibu Abubakar Audu, has sacked some of his aides whom he claimed supported Murtala Ajaka, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Some of the affected aides on Wednesday confirmed to SaharaReporters that not only were they sacked by the minister, they have also not been paid for four months since the minister was appointed in August 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.
When contacted, one of Audu’s affected aides said, “Yes, he laid us off and we have not been paid.”
SaharaReporters had reported how Audu had promised to offer automatic employment to some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kogi East that delivered their wards or polling units to the party during the governorship election in the state.
Audu, who was made Minister of Steel Development in August 2023, by President Bola Tinubu, had disclosed this in a post he shared on a WhatsApp group he created on 6/16/22 with 218 participants, to advance political mobilisation.
The WhatsApp group titled: "Shuaib Abubakar Audu 4 Usman Ahmed Ododo Media Center (SAA4UAO)," has a stated goal as "this platform will initiate programmes, educate our viewers and supporters about the activities of Alhaji Shuaib Abubakar Audu and its political activities".
The minister had said that any Kogi Eastern APC member who delivered his polling unit or ward has a chance to get a job of becoming his aides or working in his ministry.
The post had read, "The results above shows I delivered polling unit and ward in Ogbonicha. I am sending this to let my supporters know that those that show evidence of delivering their polling units and/or wards will be given the first option for job employments in the ministerial under me or becoming my aides or to be recommended for employment opportunities at the State level.”
"So please post your results and then send your CV if you meet the stated criteria," he wrote with some pictures of results of the governorship election attached.
SaharaReporters had reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the poll.
According INEC, Ododo won the election with 446,237 votes, while his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), scored 259,052 votes.
SaharaReporters also reported that the election was characterised with irregularities including vote-buying and pre-recorded election results in many polling units and wards.