The management of the Anambra State Traffic Management Agency (ATMA) has suspended for two months without pay some of its officers who went viral recently after singing a campaign song in support of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
According to investigations by our correspondent, the management announced the suspension of the officers on Tuesday.
The sanction followed the controversy generated by a viral video showing the officers singing an NDC campaign song, associated with the political aspirations of Obi and Kwankwaso, to a motorist.
The incident reportedly occurred at Nwagu Agulu Junction, where the officers were deployed for traffic control duties.
The officers had earlier been summoned to the agency’s headquarters in Awka to explain their conduct and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Their two-month suspension without pay is believed to be the outcome of the disciplinary process initiated by the agency following the circulation of the video.
Although the circumstances surrounding the officers’ action remain unclear, there had been suggestions that their singing might have been prompted by the NDC logo they reportedly sighted in the motorist’s car.
The development has reportedly thrown the affected officers into distress, with some expressing fears about their future following the disciplinary action.
It was gathered that some of the affected officers had been weeping and approaching influential personalities who could intervene on their behalf and appeal to relevant authorities for leniency.
Meanwhile, relatives of the affected officers have appealed to public-spirited individuals to come to their aid by helping them secure alternative employment opportunities in view of their present circumstances.
The relatives reportedly fear that the suspension, particularly without pay, could worsen the economic situation of the affected officers and their families.
The incident has also raised questions about the extent to which public officers can freely express political preferences, particularly when such expressions occur while they are performing official duties.
While public servants retain their constitutional rights as citizens, the regulations governing their respective agencies may restrict partisan political activities, especially when carried out in official uniforms or during working hours.
However, it remains unclear whether the two-month suspension was specifically imposed for breaching ATMA’s operational regulations or for other reasons connected with the incident.
About Author
