Relieve the Minister of Interior (Comrade Abba Moro) of his ministerial position.

Relieve the Minister of Interior (Comrade Abba Moro) of his ministerial position.

Started
16 March 2014
Petition to
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and 1 other
Petition Closed
This petition had 1,709 supporters

Why this petition matters

On Saturday, 15 March 2014, over 500,000 job-seekers attended recruitment examinations organised by the Ministry of Interioracross Nigeria to fill 4,556 vacancies in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). In most cities, the examinations took place in stadia, suggesting that the organisers anticipated large turn-outs. Inexplicably, they failed to make adequate or any arrangements for crowd management and control, resulting in the unnecessary deaths of at least 18 people in 6 cities. Hundreds were injured in the stampedes caused by gross negligence and greed.

The Say No Campaign, is a coalition of civil society organisations fighting against corruption and impunity in Nigeria. One month later, the names of those who died have not been released and neither has the process to compensate those who were injured begun. This tragedy was needless, foreseeable, and avoidable. The failure of the Ministry of the Interior to adequately manage the process and safeguard the safety and security of the jobseekers is inexcusable. 

We are asking Mr President to relieve Mr Abba Moro of his post as Minister of Interior since he has taken responsibility for the negligence that caused the unnecessary deaths. There MUST be a penalty for WILLINGLY putting the lives of innocent Nigerians at risk. This petition is supported by a series of Citizen Hearings where the testimonies of those who participated in the recruitment process will be compiled. This petition and the testimonies will be presented to Mr President to push the need for swift action.

In his initial reaction to the deaths, Minister of the Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, accused the victims of “impatience”, claiming that the deaths resulted because “they did not follow the laid down procedures spelt out to them before the exercise.”

The effort by the Minister responsible for citizenship in Nigeria to blame the victims rather than take responsibility shows a callous disregard for the lives of Nigerians incompatible with his office. It brings public service into disrepute.

Furthermore, the Ministry had compelled each jobseeker to pay the sum of one thousand Naira (N1,000) as a processing fee. There is no evidence that this sum was remitted to the Federation Account as required by law. 

This petition provides an opportunity for Nigerians to show their disapproval of the Minister’s actions, demand that he’s held accountable and insist justice is enacted on behalf of the families of those who lost loved ones.

 

 

Petition Closed

This petition had 1,709 supporters

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Decision-Makers

  • The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
  • The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan