Employees of South Energy Nigeria Limited handling the Eko
Atlantic project at Victoria Island, Lagos State, on Wednesday, embarked on a
peaceful demonstration over failure of the management to improve their salaries
and welfare package.
Atlantic project at Victoria Island, Lagos State, on Wednesday, embarked on a
peaceful demonstration over failure of the management to improve their salaries
and welfare package.
The workers also complained about the casualisation of
workers introduced by the management.
workers introduced by the management.
The workers, on Wednesday afternoon, were seen barricading
the major gates of the company and adjoining Ahmadu Bello Way, carrying
placards and obstructing free flow of traffic.
the major gates of the company and adjoining Ahmadu Bello Way, carrying
placards and obstructing free flow of traffic.
A worker, Mr Ibrahim Azeez, told reporters that the company
had breached the terms they earlier agreed on as salary and entitlement, which
was based on equivalent of 100 dollars per day per worker.
had breached the terms they earlier agreed on as salary and entitlement, which
was based on equivalent of 100 dollars per day per worker.
“We agreed that the company should pay us according the
advert on their site as 100 dollars per day for a worker,” Azeez said.
advert on their site as 100 dollars per day for a worker,” Azeez said.
According to him, the management of the company is paying
them far less than the agreed amount.
them far less than the agreed amount.
Another worker, Mr Philomenon Chukwuka, said that there was
no provision for transportation for workers.
no provision for transportation for workers.
“Most of the workers cannot go home after the day’s
work, so we always sleep around here till the following day,” he said.
work, so we always sleep around here till the following day,” he said.
Mr Jude Egba said that there was no good clinic facility to
take care of any worker that sustained injury while on duty.
take care of any worker that sustained injury while on duty.
“They are denying us of many rights, especially the
medical aspect; we are not given adequate treatment if we sustain injury on the
site.
medical aspect; we are not given adequate treatment if we sustain injury on the
site.
“We need staff appraisal based on merit which will
motivate the workers to put in their best,” Egba said.
motivate the workers to put in their best,” Egba said.
Addressing the protesting workers, Mr David Frame, Managing
Director, South Energy Nigeria Limited, promised them that the company would
review the conditions of service.
Director, South Energy Nigeria Limited, promised them that the company would
review the conditions of service.
Frame said that there would be no more casual workers and
requested that they should select five of their members for a roundtable
meeting to dialogue on their other demands.
requested that they should select five of their members for a roundtable
meeting to dialogue on their other demands.
“I understand your grievances and out of your demands,
I can assure you that the most important thing will be done.
I can assure you that the most important thing will be done.
“As I said, there will be no more casual workers and
some of you should come and let us dialogue and see how we will resolve the
rest of your demands,” Frame said.
some of you should come and let us dialogue and see how we will resolve the
rest of your demands,” Frame said.
Mr Oyewole Emmanuel, Divisional Police Officer (DPO),
Victoria Island, deployed officers to ensure security and also mediate between
the management and the workers.
Victoria Island, deployed officers to ensure security and also mediate between
the management and the workers.
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