The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has clarified that the prayer session organized within the Ministry was aimed supporting staff wellbeing and not a policy intervention on food security as speculated.
This was contained in a statement by the Ministry’s Assistant Director of Information, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, on Saturday.
Recall that NPO reported that the session themed “Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development,” is slated to hold for three consecutive Mondays in June.
The statement revealed that the session was prompted by successive deaths within the ministry’s management which had left many employees apprehensive.
“The Ministry’s attention is drawn to the internal circular of the Human Resource Management Department being circulated by online media, in this regard the ministry wishes to inform that the prayer session is an initiative of Human Resource Department to address the wellbeing of the staff just as the already existing monthly aerobic exercise and establishment of the gymnasium in the ministry are for physical fitness as the regular medical check -up of staff are for their health.
“The prayer was to address the apprehensiveness of staff over the recent untimely and successive death of management staff of the Ministry.
“The staff also deem it not out of place to pray for the country, hence The Theme of the Prayer Sessions “Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development’’.
“It must be emphasized that this is NOT an official policy by the Ministry to address agriculture and food security issues in the country. But in response to the yearnings of staff who are apprehensive following the death of some of their colleagues in recent times.”
NPO Reports recalls that the initial notice of the prayer session had sparked widespread criticism across various social media platforms.