Get Guardian on GoogleThe Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has denied reports that its staff union chairman was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) following disagreements between the agency’s management and workers over a promotion exercise.
The agency said the DSS invited representatives of both management and the staff union to a meeting to discuss the matter, but no member of staff was detained or intimidated.
The Head of Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa-Oyelude, stated this while responding to a media report suggesting strained relations between the management and workers over the promotion exercise and the involvement of the DSS.
According to her, the report misrepresented the circumstances surrounding the meeting and gave a misleading account of the engagement between the parties.
She said representatives of the management and the union were invited by the DSS, where the matter was discussed before both parties were asked to return to status quo.
Amasa-Oyelude said, “It is unfortunate that a section of the media has chosen sensationalism over responsible journalism by publishing a concocted account of events surrounding the DSS engagement. Nobody was detained.
“As stated earlier, both parties were invited, the matter was discussed, and everyone was asked to return to status quo. To turn this into a story of detention and intimidation is a misrepresentation of the facts.”
The agency also defended its relationship with employees, insisting that staff welfare, promotion and professional development remained priorities for its management.
It said its workforce of approximately 2,800 employees had contributed significantly to its growth in revenue generation and operational efficiency.
Amasa-Oyelude said the agency had continued to invest in staff training, capacity building and career advancement, adding that promotion decisions were guided by merit, competence and performance.
She said management remained committed to creating opportunities for employees to develop professionally and advance in their careers.
The LIRS spokesperson added that the agency’s achievements in revenue generation and service delivery were the result of the collective efforts of its employees.
She maintained that management had consistently prioritised staff welfare and professional growth, despite the concerns raised in the media report.
The agency further said it remained open to discussions with recognised staff representatives and would continue to pursue policies aimed at maintaining workplace harmony.
It also reiterated its commitment to merit-based promotions, employee development and improved service delivery.
The disagreement over the promotion exercise comes amid renewed attention to the relationship between the agency’s management and its workforce.
However, LIRS maintained that the DSS engagement should not be interpreted as evidence of a breakdown in relations between both parties.
The agency said it would continue to engage with staff representatives through established channels while sustaining its commitment to employee welfare and institutional performance.
