Some staff members of the Federal Government Press in Lagos have alleged the unlawful sale of a property that previously housed their operations to private interests.
The property, managed by the Federal Ministry of Information and located near the former National Assembly site in Lagos, was reportedly established during the Second Republic to meet legislative printing needs. The press was later relocated to Mobil Road, Apapa.
According to the staff, the press had operated from multiple locations, including facilities at Mobil Road, Boundary, and Tafawa Balewa Square.
“The office at TBS is the bone of contention. The purpose of establishing it was to serve the Second Republic,” one worker told newsmen anonymously, citing fear of victimisation.
The TBS office, situated near the National Assembly’s former site, was equipped with specialised machines for government printing.
However, in 2022, these machines were moved to Apapa under directives from the then-director.
The concerned staff claim that, in late 2024, notices were posted on the TBS property, ordering workers to vacate the premises without formal authorisation.
Last week, workers were given an ultimatum to leave by January 6, 2025, or face forced eviction.The staff allege that the property was sold through collusion between a former Minister of Information and Culture and a former director of the government press.
They accuse both officials of privatising a national asset for personal or political gain.
“From all our investigations so far, we heard that the former information minister connived with the former head of our government press to sell the place, effectively robbing us of that location,” one worker alleged.
The concerned workers have called on relevant authorities and investigative bodies to probe the matter, highlighting the property’s historical and functional significance.
“These people should have documentation to back it up. Why are they using backdoor methods to sell off national assets to their political colleagues?” they questioned.
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