Staff members of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) in Nigeria have raised serious concerns about the management of the organization, calling for the immediate removal of its CEO, Ms. Gloria Akobundu. On Wednesday, employees staged a protest at the NEPAD headquarters, accusing Akobundu of poor leadership, financial misappropriation, and turning the institution into a personal enterprise since her appointment in September 2016.
Protesters carried placards with messages like “Enough of bad management,” “NEPAD is not a family business,” and “Akobundu must go,” expressing their frustrations and demanding improved working conditions. They alleged that official duties were being delegated to non-staff members, particularly those connected to Akobundu, rather than to the actual employees of the organization.
Aliu Abubakar, one of the protesting staff members, urged President Bola Tinubu to launch a thorough investigation into the organization’s activities over the past eight years. He criticized the CEO for sidelining NEPAD employees and outsourcing their responsibilities to outsiders.
“The organization is being run like a family business. Staff are not being allowed to carry out their functions,” Abubakar said. He also highlighted that staff often found out about key activities through the media, only to see outsiders participating in events that should have involved NEPAD personnel.
Another protester, also named Abubakar, emphasized that the protest aimed to bring the dire situation to the attention of President Tinubu and the Nigerian public. He described the staff’s experience over the past eight years as being “in bondage,” and appealed to the government for intervention.
In response, Ms. Akobundu denied all allegations, stating that she has always prioritized the welfare of her staff. Speaking from a hospital where she was receiving treatment, Akobundu referred to the situation as a “family matter” and assured that it would be resolved. She noted that she had addressed the protesting staff despite her ill health and expressed her commitment to improving their working conditions.
AUDA-NEPAD, established by the African Union, is tasked with coordinating and executing key regional and continental projects to promote integration and support the realization of Agenda 2063. The agency also plays a crucial role in providing advisory support, mobilizing resources, and serving as a technical interface between Africa and its development partners.
