FG issues warning to car dealer over videos mocking civil servants

The Nigerian government on Monday, June 2, issued a warning to an Abuja-based automobile dealer following his viral videos mocking civil servants.

In a letter signed by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu warned the car dealer popularly known as Alamin Sarkinmota to desist from mocking civil servants about not being able to afford his cars.

In a series of video adverts made on his social media page, Sarkinmota would always tell his followers that his cars are high-end automobiles that are not for civil servants.

According to him, his cars which range from N20 million and above, are for rich people cannot be bought with civil servants’ salary.

However, in the letter, Issa-Oniru said, “We write in reference to a video skit that you made ostensibly to promote a Mercedes Benz 2023 C300 with Al functionalities, which you showcased and asked the question ‘Can civil servants afford you?’ and the Artificial intelligence function responded to say ‘No! may be in 2062.”

According to Issa-Oniru, Nigerians are already under immense social pressure in a get-rich-at-all-cost environment and do not need such taunting.

The NOA boss also said that civil servants across Nigeria and the world, are very important and play key roles in all sectors of the economy.

He said, therefore, it is important that they are treated with utmost dignity and not to be addressed in a condescending manner.

Issa-Oniru added, “We have taken the trouble to respond based on the feedback we are getting from many people who have watched your video skit on the 2023 C300 Mercedes-Benz. Kindly please take note.”

He further stated that the NOA is ready to work with the car dealer to ensure that Nigerian civil servants are respected and thrive in a nation where the dignity of labour is valued over and above material things.