Confusion erupted on Thursday as workers were locked out by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.
The minister was said to have prevented workers who came to work late from gaining access to the ministry.
However, after the gate was opened, the workers, comprising the Housing and Works Ministry, refused to enter into the ministry.
Instead, they occupied the entrance gate, insisting that the minister must come out to address them.
They also claimed that he stopped engineers and directors from doing their work, and has been breaking public service rules since his appointment, by bringing in consultants to run the affairs of the ministry.
The protesting staff were chanting “Umahi Must Go”, and lamented that they reside far away and there was no way they could come to the office early.