The management of the Anambra State Traffic Management Agency (ATMA) has reportedly suspended some of its officers for two months without pay over a viral video showing them singing a campaign song in support of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
According to investigations by our correspondent, the agency announced the disciplinary measure on Tuesday following the controversy generated by the video.
The footage showed the traffic officers singing an NDC campaign song associated with the political ambitions of Obi and Kwankwaso to a motorist.
The incident reportedly took place at Nwagu Agulu Junction, where the affected officers were deployed to perform traffic control duties.
Following the video’s circulation on social media, the officers were reportedly summoned to ATMA’s headquarters in Awka to explain their actions and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Their suspension for two months without salary is believed to have followed the disciplinary proceedings initiated by the agency.
Although the exact reason behind their conduct remains unclear, reports suggest that the officers might have been prompted to sing after noticing the NDC logo on the motorist’s vehicle.
The disciplinary action has reportedly left the affected officers distressed, with some said to be worried about their financial situation and future.
Sources disclosed that some of them have been weeping and seeking the intervention of influential individuals who could appeal to the relevant authorities to reconsider the punishment.
Meanwhile, relatives of the suspended officers have reportedly appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to assist them in securing alternative employment opportunities amid their current predicament.
The families expressed fears that the two-month suspension without pay could further worsen their economic challenges and affect their ability to cater for their households.
The development has also sparked questions about the limits of political expression by public servants, particularly when such expressions take place during official working hours and in the course of performing public duties.
Although public servants retain their constitutional rights as citizens, the rules and regulations governing their respective agencies may restrict partisan political activities while on duty or in official uniforms.
