By Jabiru Hassan
The FERMA Joint Union has formally denied reports alleging abuse of public service and undue interference in operational matters by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency’s (FERMA) 6th Governing Board and its chairman. The union described the claims as false, misleading, and not representative of its position. The denial was contained in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja, where the union distanced itself from a publication accusing the governing board of collaborating with the Human Resources Management Department to interfere with the agency’s day-to-day activities. The statement emphasized that the report did not originate from the union and should be disregarded by the public.
The statement was jointly signed by Comrade Paul Onimisi, Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) at FERMA, and Comrade Idris Abdulmumin, Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE). Both leaders reaffirmed the union’s loyalty to the 6th Governing Board.
According to the union leaders, the FERMA Joint Union remains committed to constructive engagement with the governing board and management to ensure the effective performance of the agency’s statutory responsibilities. They stressed that collaboration, mutual respect, and adherence to due process are essential to achieving FERMA’s mandate of maintaining federal roads nationwide.The statement further noted that, as a democratic and law-abiding body, the union believes strongly in decorum, institutional discipline, and respect for constituted authority. It warned against attempts by individuals or groups to misrepresent the union’s stance for personal or political gain.
“The publication in question arose from unscrupulous elements who sought to use the name of the Joint Union to pursue cheap personal interests,” the statement said. “Such actions do not reflect the values or position of the FERMA Joint Union.”Reiterating its position, the union categorically stated that it neither authorized nor issued any press release accusing the governing board of abuse of power. It urged media organizations and the general public to verify information before publication to avoid misinformation.“The press releases published did not emanate from us and do not reflect our views or position,” the statement concluded.
The FERMA Joint Union also reaffirmed its readiness to continue engaging positively with the governing board and management in the interest of industrial harmony, improved service delivery, and the overall development of the nation’s road infrastructure.The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency plays a critical role in the maintenance and rehabilitation of federal highways across Nigeria, making cooperation between its workforce, unions, management, and governing board essential to its effectiveness.
